Using Graphic Organizers to support

ELL’s

3rd grade Standard: 3.3 Geometry and measurement: Describe and analyze properties of 2-D shapes including

perimeters

How do they help? Graphic Organizers give students

visual cues to support their learning.

They improve the structure and clarity of your thinking!

Classification Chart: polygons

Using the Polygon Classification Chart

Columns: square, rectangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, parallelogram

Rows: sides, angles, perpendicular lines, and parallel lines

fill in the information with students while students use real examples and models.

(See slide 3)

Diagram: Quadrilaterals

Using the Quadrilateral Diagram

This chart shows that parallelograms, squares, rectangles, squares, rhombuses, trapezoids, and kites are ALL QUADRILATERALS.

It then breaks down to visually show that rhombuses, squares and rectangles are also all PARALLELOGRAMS.

The final step shows that a square is also a rectangle and a rhombus. BUT a rectangle is NOT a square!

(see slide 5)

Classification Chart: Triangles

Using the Triangle Attribute chart

Columns: equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle, scalene triangle, right triangle

Rows: sides, angles, perpendicular lines, parallel lines

Work with students to fill in the chart while using hands on materials and manipulates

(see slide 7)

Diagram: Triangles

Using the Triangle Comparison Chart

This visual helps children to understand that triangles can fall into different classifications.

Scalene triangles can be right, obtuse, and acute.

Isosceles triangles can be right, obtuse and acute.

EQUILATERAL triangles are ALSO isosceles!(see slide 9)

Students then use charts for oral language practice using sentence frames:

B - _________ have _________.Example: rectangles have 4 right angles.

I - ____________ can be described as _______________ .

Example: Octagons can be described as a polygon with 8 sides.

EA/A - ________ are characterized by several distinct features such as: ______ and _______.

Example: Equilateral triangles are characterized by several distinct features such as: all angles measure 60 degrees and all sides are equal.

Thank you!