Which One Doesn't Belong?: A Shapes Book, 5 pack
#5 in Which One Doesn't Belong? Series
on Goodreads (50)
What’s inside...
Every colorful page of Christopher Danielson's children's picture book, Which One Doesn’t Belong?, contains a thoughtfully designed set of four shapes where each shape can be the correct answer to the question 'Which one doesn’t belong?'. This encourages students to focus on justifications and arguments based on the shapes' geometric properties. In the companion teacher’s guide, Danielson provides strategies for facilitating rich discussions and teaching mathematical argumentation using the book. He offers insights on how to respectfully listen to students' ideas about shapes, synthesizes research on how children learn geometry, and provides practical advice for implementing the book in classrooms. The guide also anticipates the mathematical ideas likely to emerge and helps teachers prepare for students’ responses. Unlike typical curricula that reduce geometry to mere vocabulary lessons, Which One Doesn’t Belong? and its guide offer valuable resources for engaging students in meaningful learning about shapes.
Discussion points
Which shape stood out to you and why does it not belong?
Can you find a pattern among the shapes that do belong together?
What new shapes can you create by rearranging these?
How do the colors affect your decision about which shape doesn't belong?
If you could add a new shape to this page, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use positive reinforcement: Acknowledge your child's responses without correcting them to keep the conversation open-ended and exploratory.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child's answers to dive deeper into their thought process.
Encourage them to use descriptive language to explain their reasoning.
Make connections to real-life shapes and patterns to enhance their understanding and interest.
Suggest drawing their own 'Which one doesn't belong?' scenarios and explain their choices.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: Children will be prompted to analyze various shapes and determine which one is distinct from the others, fostering their ability to observe and evaluate.
Real-World Application: This skill helps in problem-solving tasks at school where they need to identify patterns or differences.
Example Lesson: Confidence in reasoning
Explanation: The book provides opportunities for children to justify their choices, promoting confidence in their own reasoning abilities.
Real-World Application: Children learn to trust their judgments and can confidently share their opinions in group discussions both academically and socially.
Example Lesson: Understanding diversity
Explanation: By identifying how one shape differs from others in a group, children grasp the concept that being different is valuable and unique.
Real-World Application: This lesson assists children in appreciating diversity among people, helping them respect and celebrate individual differences.
Example Lesson: Open-ended thinking
Explanation: Each page offers multiple correct answers, encouraging children to think creatively without fear of 'wrong' answers.
Real-World Application: Fosters an adaptable mindset, crucial for innovation and creative thinking in real-world scenarios.