Mathematics
Grade 4
Connections to Real-Life Situations
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Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your child is currently learning to connect geometric concepts to
real-life situations. Here is your chance to help your child practice
this important skill.
In this PAL Packet you will find a short activity for you and your
child to do. Please do the activity and The Back Page this evening.
Then sign your name on The Back Page and have your child return it
tomorrow.
Remember, parents are a child’s first teacher. Thank you for your
time and energy in making learning fun and exciting for your child.
Sincerely,
_________________________
Your child’s teacher
Grade 4 – Connections to Real-Life Situations
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
1
Last printed 8/31/04
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GEOMETRY IN REAL LIFE
Parent Pointer —
Close your eyes. Now open them. What do you see? Shapes
everywhere! Geometric shapes make up most of our environment. We
use such geometric concepts as symmetry and congruency when we
need something that is exactly the same size and shape. We use
transformations such as turns and flips when adjusting a picture on the
wall or looking in the mirror. Being able to apply geometric concepts to
real life is an important skill for your child to learn.
Math In the Home, On the Go, and For the Fun of It —
DIRECTIONS: After you read the “Parent Pointer” with your parent
or guardian, turn to the Day-by-Day Geometry reference sheet. This
sheet reviews some of the geometric concepts covered in class. Study
these examples with your parent or guardian. Discuss other real-life
examples of these concepts with him or her. Read and follow the
directions to complete the activity on the Really Real Geometry page.
Talk About It —
After you have finished the activity, turn to The Back Page to show
what you know.
Now go have some fun with the activity! (
Grade 4 – Connections to Real-Life Situations
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
2
Last printed 8/31/04
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Day-by-Day Geometry
Shapely Road Signs
SPEED
LIMIT
55
Octagon Triangle
Circle
Rectangle
National
Park
Pentagon
Trapezoid
Street Lines and Angles
Intersecting
Parallel
Perpendicular
Right angles
Exact Look-Alikes
2 sides of a window
2 floor tiles
Symmetrical
Congruent
Move It
12
9
3
6
Clock hands
Turn
Grade 4 – Connections to Real-Life Situations
Roll your hand over
Flip
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
3
Last printed 8/31/04
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Really Real Geometry
Directions: With your parent or guardian, look inside and
outside your home for examples of real-life geometry. Draw a
picture of them or write their name next to the geometric
words in the table below. Try not to use examples from the
reference sheet.
Geometric concept
Real-life example
Symmetrical shape
Intersecting lines
Hexagon shape
Right angle
Quadrilateral shape
(any 4–sided shape)
Congruent shapes
Turn
Perpendicular lines
Parallel lines
Flip
Grade 4 – Connections to Real-Life Situations
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
4
Last printed 8/31/04
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The Back Page
Talk About It
Parent —
Ask your child the following question:
9Why do you need to know geometric shapes, lines,
right angles, flips, and turns?
Student —
Answer the above question in complete sentences on the
reverse side of this page.
OR
Do one of the following activities on the reverse side of
this page:
9Ask your parent or guardian to draw some real-life
pictures. List all the real-life geometry concepts you
see in each picture.
9Cut out pictures of real-life objects that contain
geometric shapes from a magazine. Glue them to the
reverse side of this page to make a collage.
__________________________ __________________________
Student’s Name
Parent or Guardian’s Signature
Grade 4 – Connections to Real-Life Situations
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
5
Last printed 8/31/04