Last week, we spent a lot of time talking about angles. We began by reviewing acute, right, and obtuse angles. We remembered that a right angle is 90° and that you can make a square inside of it. We discussed that an acute angle is just a cute little angle. It’s less than 90°. An obtuse angle is larger and is more than 90°.
Acute, Right and Obtuse Angles
After we reviewed different types of angles, students were introduced to a protractor. A protractor is used to help us measure and draw angles.
A protractor is used to measure angles.
You will notice that in the protractor, a straight line goes through 0°. This is called the zero plane. We always put the center of that zero plane on the vertex, the point where the two lines meet. We then look up at the second line to see what numbers it intersects. You will notice two different numbers. In order to figure out which numbers to use, you need to know whether it is an acute angle or an obtuse angle. If it is an acute angle, you will use the smaller numbers (less than 90°). If it is an obtuse angle, you will use the larger numbers (greater than 90°). To practice using a protractor, try heading over to the site Math is Fun. It has a great tool that will allow you to measure different angles!
In order to practice measuring angles, we designed our own Angry Bird levels. Angry Birds is a popular game where you have to use a slingshot to shoot birds through the air to destroy green pigs. Students had to design their background, figure out the placement of their pigs, decide what type of birds they would use and then figure out the path each bird would have to travel in order to defeat the level. After this was completed, we then found our zero plane (a line even with our slingshot). Students then had to measure the angles that each bird would have to be shot at for the best results. They then marked these angles on their poster. Take a look through the pictures below to see our final results! You can click on any picture to enlarge it.
*Did using Angry Birds help you to understand measuring angles?*
*When else might you need to know how to measure angles?*
Dear Mr. Avery,
The Angry Bird posters were all so colorful! My partner was Jenna. Ours is the space one. If the posters were on the real game ours would be so easy to knock down. All you would have to do is hit the base and all of the pieces would fall. It was really fun making the posters! I wish I could make another poster.
Sincerely,
Natalie S.
What a fantastic and modern way of looking at angles. This has given me inspiration to undertake this lesson with my own year 5′s. (Not sure which grade in the US that is) Thank you for sharing and well done. Some great drawings of the levels – perhaps you need to send them to the Angry Birds and see if they can create some of the levels for you!
This looks like a great idea. I would love to hear the feedback from the students about it. Did they find it effective? Engaging?
Dear Mr. Avery’s Class,
Hello from sunny San Antonio! Our Doppler Radar is blank! Can you believe that? Sunny skies and swimming pools for me, plus a little bit of Angry Birds.
I reached Level VII and had so much fun. Can’t wait to teach angles with Angry Birds next year. I learned I could get more power on some levels with acute angles…high flying!
I love all your pictures and can tell Angry Birds brought geometry to life for you!
Mrs. Kistler
A Summer 49′er
It is fantastic that you have incorporated math, technology, science and art, all into the one lesson. It would have been highly engaging and motivating for the students.
I wonder if the students could now create their own game to test the angles?
Great work!
I think the students all did a great job, and I especially like how they all drew their angle markers between the line and the zero plane – some of my high school students still forget that! Great work by everyone.
Dear Mr. Avery,
Making the Angry Bird Levels was so much fun. The hard part was figuring out what kind of angles they were. Mine was the beach scene.
From,
Ariel
These are pretty cool! What a great idea – I hope you all enjoy your summer holidays!
Us on the other hand are still ploughing through winter down in New Zealand. Check out our learning sometime http://fuse711.edublogs.org/
Nic
Nic,
Thanks for our comment. The summer holiday is always a nice little break. It lets everyone recharge a bit before we start back up in September.
I’ll definitely be sure to check out your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Mr. Avery
Hello Mr Avery,
What a fantastic idea for teaching angles. I had thought about the concept so now I’ll go through with teaching as everybody in Geelong, Victoria, Australia also loves Angry Birds.
Bernie
Bernie,
Thanks for the kind words! The students definitely loved making the posters. I look forward to making them again in the new school year.
I hope you’re able to use it in the future. I’d love to hear how it goes!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
The way you teach math must be fun and educational. You used art, math, and a game to teach angles. That is a wonderful way to teach angles. Do you teach math with other games as well?
From,
Dharyl
Dear Dharyl,
I try to make everything fun and educational! I definitely feel like learning can be fun!
We use lots of games in class. On Friday we played a game called Star Wars. We used it to help learn how to multiply decimals.
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Yes! I love angry birds. Now it can help me with math! What is your favorite bird? Mine is the bomb.
From,
Christian
Hi Christian,
Angry Birds can definitely help you with math. Every time you shoot a bird, you are trying to determine what angle would be best to shoot the bird at to knock things down.
My favorite bird would probably be the bomb too because it destroys so many things at once!
Sincerely,
Mr. Avery
Dear Mr. Avery’s class,
I understand measuring angles. I like the drawing of the Angry Birds.
Angry Birds helps me with math a lot because it is used for distance and angles.
Sincerely Jasmine,
A 49er