Children's literature
Listed below are two children's literature books that coincide with our geometry unit. Both books will help your child to gain practice learning the math vocabulary and expanding their literacy skills.
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone
by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Wayne Geehan
Summary: Radius, the son of Sir Cumference and Lady Di Ameter, and his best friend Vertex set out to find King Arthur's sword, Edgecalibur. They visit the carpenters, Geo and Sym of Metry to find out what the images on the clue represented. They find that the images are flattened three-dimensional objects. The two boys begin to create three-dimensional objects and take note of the faces, points, and edges of each shape. They charted their findings in a table. Using the information they gather from the table, they discover that the shape that the sword is hidden within is either a cylinder or a cone. They begin their search for the part of the castle that could contain the hidden sword. After searching over the cone and under the cones on the walkway they think the sword may be inside one of them. They begin to dig out the cones until they finally find the one with the Kings sword hidden inside. Amongst the celebration, Vertex explains to the town how they found the sword. Vertex is knighted by the King as Prince Vertex and later becomes a noble king.
Mathematics and Literacy in this Book: This book incorporates math vocabulary and mathematical concepts in a creative and engaging style. The character's names are math vocabulary that the students are learning within our geometry unit. There are additional math vocabulary terms mentioned and defined through the boys adventure such as the words cone, cylinder, faces, and edges. Radius and Vertex use math concepts to find the hidden sword such as making three-dimensional shapes, finding commonalities among the shapes, and using measurement. The book shows mathematical accuracy through the shapes graphic organizer, the measurement data, and vocabulary definitions. The story line is engaging and applicable, because the boys appear to be of similar ages as your child. The illustrations are colorful, support the text, and provide visual interpretations of the math concepts described. The writing style of this book easily flows as a narrative story with information text embedded. Some of the general vocabulary within the book may be new to your child. It may be helpful to make a list of the words they do not recognize and use a vocabulary strategy to learn them. Overall, the book's presentation is inviting to readers, informative about geometry, and successfully integrates literature and mathematics.
Reading this Book with your Child
by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Wayne Geehan
Summary: Radius, the son of Sir Cumference and Lady Di Ameter, and his best friend Vertex set out to find King Arthur's sword, Edgecalibur. They visit the carpenters, Geo and Sym of Metry to find out what the images on the clue represented. They find that the images are flattened three-dimensional objects. The two boys begin to create three-dimensional objects and take note of the faces, points, and edges of each shape. They charted their findings in a table. Using the information they gather from the table, they discover that the shape that the sword is hidden within is either a cylinder or a cone. They begin their search for the part of the castle that could contain the hidden sword. After searching over the cone and under the cones on the walkway they think the sword may be inside one of them. They begin to dig out the cones until they finally find the one with the Kings sword hidden inside. Amongst the celebration, Vertex explains to the town how they found the sword. Vertex is knighted by the King as Prince Vertex and later becomes a noble king.
Mathematics and Literacy in this Book: This book incorporates math vocabulary and mathematical concepts in a creative and engaging style. The character's names are math vocabulary that the students are learning within our geometry unit. There are additional math vocabulary terms mentioned and defined through the boys adventure such as the words cone, cylinder, faces, and edges. Radius and Vertex use math concepts to find the hidden sword such as making three-dimensional shapes, finding commonalities among the shapes, and using measurement. The book shows mathematical accuracy through the shapes graphic organizer, the measurement data, and vocabulary definitions. The story line is engaging and applicable, because the boys appear to be of similar ages as your child. The illustrations are colorful, support the text, and provide visual interpretations of the math concepts described. The writing style of this book easily flows as a narrative story with information text embedded. Some of the general vocabulary within the book may be new to your child. It may be helpful to make a list of the words they do not recognize and use a vocabulary strategy to learn them. Overall, the book's presentation is inviting to readers, informative about geometry, and successfully integrates literature and mathematics.
Reading this Book with your Child
- Before reading this book with your child, familiarize yourself with the character names and the geometry concepts that are presented throughout the book. Most of the characters names are related to geometry, so knowing the correct pronunciation prior to reading the story with your child will be helpful to their understanding of the connection.
- This book may be slightly above your child's reading level based on the Fry readability outcomes that you can find below. Read this book with your child, allowing them to read the majority independently, but offer assistance when they come across a word that is unfamiliar.
- Ask your child questions throughout the book. For example: "What is a 'Sir Cumference' (circumference)? Where are the faces on the prism he is holding? How many cones do you see on the castle? Why are they measuring the base of the cones?
- You and your child can practice making three-dimensional figures like Radius and Vertex make in the book by using these templates. You will need to print the document and use scissors and tape to create the three-dimensional shapes.
Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Math: From Simple Shapes to Geometry
by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster
Summary: This book presents the mathematical vocabulary your child is learning in this unit with the definition, an example of the word, a visual representation, and sometimes an extension question. Each page has a vocabulary word in bold at the top with supporting text and visuals accompanying it. Twizzlers candy is the topic that all the vocabulary is related to throughout the book. the book contains higher-order thinking questions to further engage the reader.
Mathematics and Literacy in this Book: The content of this book is excellent for your child to learn to better understand the geometry vocabulary we are learning in class. The information presented is accurate and is an expansion of the vocabulary list included on this website. Some examples of the mathematical vocabulary within this book are angle, parallel, square, perpendicular, perimeter, area, vertex, protractor, cube, and prism. There is not a consistent story line within this book. The focus of this book is more towards information text with a loose story line related to the Twizzlers candy. The visuals within this book are relevant to the text and are abundant throughout the story. In reference to the book's writing style, the book flows at a moderate to easy pace. In regards to general vocabulary in this book, the majority of it should be recognizable to your child. Overall, this book has an appealing and interactive presentation that your child will find engaging.
Reading this Book with your Child
by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster
Summary: This book presents the mathematical vocabulary your child is learning in this unit with the definition, an example of the word, a visual representation, and sometimes an extension question. Each page has a vocabulary word in bold at the top with supporting text and visuals accompanying it. Twizzlers candy is the topic that all the vocabulary is related to throughout the book. the book contains higher-order thinking questions to further engage the reader.
Mathematics and Literacy in this Book: The content of this book is excellent for your child to learn to better understand the geometry vocabulary we are learning in class. The information presented is accurate and is an expansion of the vocabulary list included on this website. Some examples of the mathematical vocabulary within this book are angle, parallel, square, perpendicular, perimeter, area, vertex, protractor, cube, and prism. There is not a consistent story line within this book. The focus of this book is more towards information text with a loose story line related to the Twizzlers candy. The visuals within this book are relevant to the text and are abundant throughout the story. In reference to the book's writing style, the book flows at a moderate to easy pace. In regards to general vocabulary in this book, the majority of it should be recognizable to your child. Overall, this book has an appealing and interactive presentation that your child will find engaging.
Reading this Book with your Child
- This book may be slightly above your child's reading level based on the Fry readability outcomes that are outlined below. Allow your child to read the majority of this book independently, but be available to help them decode vocabulary that might be challenging.
- While reading the page that introduces a protractor, show your child a real protractor. You can show them how to draw and measure angles with it if they show curiosity.
- While reading this book, have objects within sight or available to be held by your child that represent the vocabulary within the book. Examples of this would be a toothpick representing a line, a playing card representing a rectangle, dice representing cubes, and a can of vegetables representing a cylinder.
- Either during or after reading, encourage your child to think of or find additional objects that represent the vocabulary within the book. Your child can make a scavenger hunt list of the objects they found to give to another family member to complete. Once the other family member has completed the scavenger hunt created by your child, they can have a conversation about the vocabulary and what your child learned about the terms in the story.
Helpful Tips for Reading with your Child
- Incorporate reading into your routine. Set aside a special time every day for reading with your child.
- Pick a comfortable spot with plenty of light to read.
- Talk with your child about the authors and illustrators of the books.
- Ask your child questions! Who was your favorite character? What do you think will happen next? What would you do if you were him?
- Read aloud together with your child and be patient when your child is reading out loud alone.
- Incorporate echo reading by choose something fun to read, such as a poem, song, or joke. You read a sentence with expression and ask your child to repeat the phrase after you.
- Involve your child while you are reading by having him/her point out objects in the pictures and follow the words with his/her finger or leave out a word or phrase on a page and have your child guess the answer.
- Be encouraging by making reading fun and enjoyable!
Fry Readability Levels for Each Book
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone
Following the steps provided below, I determined that this book is within the fourth grade Fry readability level. Although this book may be slightly above your child's reading level, it contains geometry vocabulary and concepts that your child is currently learning. You should remain available to assist your child to read this book. Your child may need assistance with some of the vocabulary in this book, but as I mentioned previously the use of a vocabulary strategy would be helpful for your child's comprehension.
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Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Math: From Simple
Shapes to Geometry I found that this book is within the fourth grade Fry readability level after completing the steps listed below. This book may be somewhat above your child's reading level, but the geometry terms and activities are we are currently learning in this unit. You should remain available to assist your child to read this book. Your child may need assistance comprehending some of the questions asked throughout the book, but the answers are easily found within the text.
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Steps to Finding Fry Readability of a Book
1. Randomly select three 100 word passages from the book: one from the beginning, one from the middle, and one from the end.
2. Count the number of sentences in the 100 words, including proper nouns.
3. Count the number of syllables in the 100 words.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other two 100 word passages.
5. Find the average number of sentences from the three passages.
6. Find the average number of syllables from the three passages.
7. Using the Fry readability graph, locate where the two numbers calculated in steps 5 and 6 intersect.
8. The labeled area in which the two values intersect is the grade level of the book's readability level.
1. Randomly select three 100 word passages from the book: one from the beginning, one from the middle, and one from the end.
2. Count the number of sentences in the 100 words, including proper nouns.
3. Count the number of syllables in the 100 words.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other two 100 word passages.
5. Find the average number of sentences from the three passages.
6. Find the average number of syllables from the three passages.
7. Using the Fry readability graph, locate where the two numbers calculated in steps 5 and 6 intersect.
8. The labeled area in which the two values intersect is the grade level of the book's readability level.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.G.A.1
Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.G.A.2
Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area, and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4.A
Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.G.A.2
Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area, and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4.A
Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.