Google Drawings - Complex Polygons
6th Grade Problem Solving
Jared Sutton & Yesenia Molina
Problem Identified: Ms. Katumuluwa and Mr. Eulau, noticing that their Grade 6 Math students had generally struggled to master “Learning Outcome #34: I can compose and decompose polygons to find the area to solve mathematical and real world problems,” asked if Mrs. Molina and I could design a problem-solving challenge that would allow them to improve their skills for this learning outcome.
Hypothesis: If students construct their own complex polygon figure problems using Google Drawings, then they will be better able to solve complex polygon figure area problems, as shown by performance on their peers' problems.
Data Collection: We distributed a “Polygon Area Worksheet Starter” to the 6th Grade Problem Solving students and showed them how to design “complex polygons” using Google Drawings, students then populated the “Starter” document with their own creations. Once students populated their documents. We printed copies of the students’ “worksheets” and distributed them to peers.
Actionable Step: Google Drawings is a useful tool for designing graphics and for allowing students to construct visual models. I have had students create infographics, experiment with rotations, and visualize exponential growth.
Overall Findings/Impact: Only a few students volunteered in guiding class discussion on the entry problem we completed before they began designing their own “complex polygons.” After having designed problems of their own, the number of students volunteering to guide discussion on these problems greatly increased. Student performance on these student-designed worksheets was, for the most part, at the meeting or approaching level.
