Space and Shape

rectangle The starting point for most paper folding is an A4 piece of paper. You might like to ask about the name of the shape then click to reveal the name 'rectangle'. You could discuss the properties of a rectangle and shape sizes like A4 etc.

This slide shows the first fold in the first step towards making a square. You might want to discuss why this fold will help.

Shape ? This slide shows the paper after the fold. Click to reveal the word 'Shape?' - ask what shape it is. Click to reveal the name of the shape. Shape ?

Ask about properties and then click to reveal parallel line marks -discuss.. trapezium

This slide shows a red rectangle - again you could ask the name of the red shape. Ask students to carefully cut off the red rectangle.

Shape ? This slide shows the red rectangle removed. Click and ask what shape we have? Then click again. Shape ?

Most students say a right angled triangle and this slide shows the right angle. However, the triangle is also isosceles so click 3 more times and ask the students if they would like to rename the shape. right angled triangle

By clicking twice more the equal sides and angles are revealed By clicking twice more the equal sides and angles are revealed. One more click reveals the name 'isosceles right angled triangle'. Shape ?

right angled isosceles triangle Now ask the students to unfold the shape. right angled isosceles triangle

Shape? Ask what shape and click. Click to reveal 'square'. Discuss properties if you want to and the diagonal line. Click once more to show the equal sides notation. Shape?

Click for next folding sequence to make a kite - but don't tell the students that you are making a kite. square

Start again with an A4 rectangle Start again with an A4 rectangle. You may want to ask about name and properties again.

Fold as before. Click

Ask for shape name again and discuss previously learnt properties of trapezium. Click.

Now make a new fold along the red dotted line. Like this - click.

Click again.

Shape? To get this. Click to reveal 'shape' and ask the name of the shape. The shape is a kite but this is not often spotted. Click five times.

kite Kite is now revealed and most students with this shape orientation can see the kite. Click again

kite The outline of the kite appears. Click. to reveal two adjacent equal sides. Click to reveal two more. Click twice to reveal two equal angles. Click to insert vertical diagonal - discuss symmetry and why we have two equal angles. Click to reveal second diagonal - is it a line of symmetry - so do we have two other equal opposite angles? How do the diagonals cross? Click to reveal right angles. Click to reveal bisected diagonal. Are any angles cut in half by diagonals? Click twice to reveal.

kite A kite has 4 right angled triangles (two equal pairs) or two isosceles triangles can you see them? Point them out. This is the last slide for the kite. Click for next folding sequence.

The next sequence of folds produces another isosceles triangle but this time it does not have a right angle. Again begin with an A4 rectangle. Click to reveal first fold.

Fold as before to make a trapezium. Click

Here is the trapezium. Again you can check if students have remembered its name and properties. Click for next fold.

This is a tricky fold. Click

This gives an impression of what happens. Click

This is the result. Click to rotate the shape.

Shape? Click to reveal 'Shape' and ask for the shape name. Click to move to next slide and reveal 'isosceles triangle'. Shape?

This is the last slide in this sequence for the isosceles triangle This is the last slide in this sequence for the isosceles triangle. You may want to ask about the previously covered properties. Click for next folding sequence. isosceles triangle

The next set of folds produces an equilateral triangle. It starts as always with a sheet of A4 paper. Don't tell the students what they are making but do ask them to listen and watch very carefully as this is tricky. Click

The first fold is easy it folds the sheet in half The first fold is easy it folds the sheet in half. You might want to ask why we have half after the fold. Click

This is after the fold. Click

Open up the sheet to return back to A4 with a fold line of symmetry. Click

This next fold is tricky This next fold is tricky. The bottom left corner must fold to the black crease line and also give a sharp pointed corner in the bottom right. Click to show result.

Ask for the name of the shape? Click to reveal 'trapezium'. Shape ?

Ask again about properties. Click to reveal next fold. trapezium

Another tricky fold. The vertical left side should lay on top of the slanting lower side. Click to show what happens.

Ask for the name of the shape. Click to reveal the name. Shape?

It is a concave pentagon - discuss and click for final fold.

The last fold is easy - just fold the blue triangle out of the way. Click to show what happens.

shape ? Ask for the shape name. Click to re-orientate the shape and reveal 'equilateral triangle'. shape ?

Click to show equal sides. equilateral triangle

Click to show equal angles. equilateral triangle

The shape is finished - you may want to discuss symmetry, size of angles, tessellation etc. Click for next shape. equilateral triangle

This is one way to make a parallelogram and is useful for an exercise called 'seagulls' that may be done later. Again you need an A4 sheet of paper. Click

We make a square as before here is the first fold. Click.

This is the result - by now you know what questions to ask. Click.

Now cut off the rectangle. Click.

Again ask the usual questions. Click.

Open up to form a square - more questions!!!!! Click.

Next fold in half as shown - you may want to discuss that the triangle we had on the earlier slide was also half - why? Open the shape after the fold so all students have what appears on this slide. Click.

The next two folds are shown here i. e The next two folds are shown here i.e. folding the outer sides to the middle line. Click to see the result.

Check students have this Check students have this. Note the slide shows a gap where the two rectangles meet on the centre line - this should not be there it appears for clarity only. Click.

Ask students to concentrate on the red spot. Click.

This shows the fold. Click.

This is the result - usual questions. Click.

Now rotate the shape through 180 degrees. Click.

Again concentrate on the red spot. Click.

This is the next fold. Click.

shape? This is the result - ask for the shape name. Click - to reveal ' parallelogram'.

parallelogram Click twice to rotate the parallelogram.

Click to show parallel markings.

Click to show equal side markings.

Click to highlight equal opposite angles.

Click to show diagonal properties.

Ask if the corner angles are bisected by the diagonals? Click to rotate the parallelogram to highlight its lack of reflection symmetry. Lots more discussion if needed.

Click for next folding exercise.

Again we use A4. We are going to make a special rhombus but don't tell the students. Click

This is the first fold and it is unusual. Click to show what happens.

This will be the fold line. Click

This is the result after the fold. Ask what shape we have. Check everyone has this shape then click.

Identify this triangle and fold it inside along the vertical line. Click.

Identify this triangle and fold this inside. Click to see what happens.

This is the result. You have two large triangles on top of each other. Click

Now unfold along the red dotted line as shown. Click

Shape? Click to reveal 'Shape?' Ask for the shape name. Click to reveal 'rhombus'. Shape?

Click to rotate. Rhombus

Click to show equal opposite angles. Rhombus

Click again for other two equal angles. Rhombus

Rhombus Ask if all the angles are equal - why not etc. Click to reveal equal and parallel sides - discuss. Rhombus

Click to add diagonals. Rhombus

Discuss properties - bisect each other, cross at 90 degrees, bisect corner angles, symmetry etc. This is the last slide in the sequence for the rhombus. The next slides show some ideas for posters and displays. Click and enjoy. Rhombus

You can see now why the rhombus is special. Can you see cubes in the patterns?

These patterns show similarity. Use A4, A5 and A6 paper to create.

These patterns show similarity. Use A4, A5 and A6 paper to create.

These patterns show similarity. Use A4, A5 and A6 paper to create.