Outdoor Math – Sidewalk Chalk Polygons
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Nov 22, 2023
Outdoor math activities: Polygons
Welcome to another post in my Outdoor Learning series! Through these posts, I hope to provide you with some fun and easy to implement lessons and strategies to help you take your take your learning outdoors! Today I am sharing a fun outdoor math activity.
Looking for some print-and-go lessons to take outside with your learners? Click on the image or button below to see all of the Outdoor Learning activities by Creative Classroom Core!
Our lesson today is all about Polygons! An understanding of polygons is a big piece of our geometry curriculum, and they are a really easy math topic to explore outside. Throw in some sunshine and sidewalk chalk, and you have the makings of a fantastic lesson for outdoor learning!
Outdoor Math – Polygon Review
To begin, we reviewed what polygons are. We used this anchor chart template as a guide. The kids helped me fill out a large version of the anchor chart, and then copied down a mini version on a blank template to keep in their Interactive Notebooks. You can make your own version of the anchor chart and template or download my version here.
A polygon is a shape made up of straight sides. Regular polygons have equal sides and angles. Irregular polygons have unequal length sides and angles. Circles and shapes that include curves are not polygons.
Polygon Video Review
After our anchor chart completion, I like to throw on this YouTube video. It does a great job of explaining the different types of polygons. Sometimes I like to have someone who isn’t me review a new concept – if the way I explained it didn’t connect with anyone, listening to someone else say the same thing in a different way might resonate.
Making the Polygons for Outdoor Math
Once we have our understanding of polygons down, we head outside. I place the students in groups, and give each group a bucket of sidewalk chalk, a meter stick, and a roll of masking tape.
First, have each student measure and tape off a large square on the pavement. Then, have them use the ruler and tape to mark off a variety of different polygons. Once they have marked off all of the spaces, have them fill them in with sidewalk chalk. When they are done, they can pull off and dispose of the tape, revealing a gorgeous work of outdoor math art!
If you’re looking for more creative ways to blend math with outdoor art, our Symmetrical Snowflakes Activities for Outdoor Learning provide another fantastic opportunity to explore geometric concepts in the fresh air!
Teaching tips for using sidewalk chalk
Word of warning – it takes A LOT of sidewalk chalk to complete this activity with a classful of students. When they press hard with the chalk to fill the spaces, it gets used up really fast. I like to hit up our local dollar store beforehand, and stock up on the big containers of chalk.
Reflecting on the activity
After their projects are complete, have the kids circulate around to the different groups and examine the artwork. This is a great time to have some rich math conversations with your students!
How many Polygons do you see in total?
How many different polygons do you see?
Can you name the different polygons present in the artwork?
Later, we head back inside and complete some reflection activities to help cement our learning. We add these pages to our Outdoor Learning Journals. Gathering our work in these journals helps to make our learning visible, and creates a valuable record of our outdoor learning. If you are looking for more information about the Outdoor Learning Journals we use, check out my post on Outdoor Sit Spots.
To keep the outdoor learning going, why not explore symmetry in nature next? Our Symmetrical Bugs Outdoor Learning Activities are an excellent follow-up for young explorers.
For those who love combining environmental themes with math, our Outdoor Learning Activities for Earth Day Math are perfect for celebrating Earth Day in the great outdoors!
Looking for more information on polygons?
Click on the image below to pick up the anchor chart and student template I used in this lesson.
Looking for the complete lesson on Playground Polygons?
This resource contains all of the resources mentioned in this post, including anchor chart template, activity cards, and reflection pages.
Looking for more lessons to inspire Outdoor Learning?
Click on the image below to go directly to the Outdoor Learning section of my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I have a wide variety of different outdoor lessons available!
Want to see these resources in action? Check them out on YouTube by watching the video below!
Looking for Additional information on outdoor learning posts?
Click on the link below to check out some of my previous posts all about Outdoor Learning.
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