Junk Drawer Geometry

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Pretty soon my lad will be taking a geometry course, so imagine how delighted I was to get a review copy of Junk Drawer Geometry.  I now have 50 hands-on activities to help my son make sense of polygons, mobius strips and angles. 

From the cover:

Geometry is a hands-on subject.  What better way to explore the concepts of area, perimeter, and volume than actually measuring area, perimeter, and volume?  With this helpful resource, you will polygons out of pipe cleaners and flexible drinking straws, explore Mobius strips made from index cards, model the Pythagorean theorem using cheese crackers, and much more.  Junk Drawer Geometry proves that you don’t need high-tech equipment to comprehend math concepts – just what you can find around the house or in your recycling bin. 

What you Get:

Divided into three chapters

• Geometry tools: 14 sections such as Pencil Compass, Right Angle String, Unit Circle Glove etc.
• Geometry labs: 18 sections such as Inscribed Angle Circles, Straw Triangles, Thumbs Up etc.
• Fun Geometry activities: 18 sections such as Math Triangles, Circle Art, Tangrams etc.

There’s not an area of Geometry that this book doesn’t cover.   Shapes, theorems, tangents, graphs, compasses, calipers, area and volume and so much more!

It was ever so helpful that each project comes with a materials list.   I found that most materials are easily found around the house, OR easy to find at your local dollar or hardware store. 

Step by Step instructions walk you through exactly what you need to do.  The pictures clearly showing what you need to do, eliminating confusion. 

I particularly appreciated that math behind the activity was clearly explained.  From understanding the importance of circles, the relevance of figuring out area, why it works to your hand to measure items at a distance, and why marshmallows work so well to understanding volume. 

My Thoughts: 

Junk Drawer Geometry follows a similar pattern to Junk Drawer Engineering.  Grayscale images with clear instructions make it so easy for the student to complete the activity.  There is an excellent range of activities, some very simple, and others that are a bit more complicated. Step by Step instructions along with understanding the math behind the activity.  Robert Mercer brings geometry into the real world for his readers.   All of the activities are quite doable and you should have no problem finding the materials to make them.   Definitely worth adding to your study of Geometry. 

Junk Drawer Geometry: 50 Awesome Activities that don’t cost a thing
Bobby Mercer
Chicago Review Press
Ages 9+, 208 pages
STEM Challenges, Math, Geometry, Hands-on
Trade Paperback
Series: Junk Drawer Science

Reviewed for Chicago Review Press.