Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Triangle question - 2nd grade

I remember this one since it made me think exactly what you wrote. I was wondering if they had been taught how to use the protractor or the compass but decided to keep mum and let DS tackle it by himself - he just used a scale and drew a triangle of approximately equal length sides. HE didn't throw a fit about the three sides being perfectly equal because he had a friend waiting outside waiting to play.

That is too funny! I would definitely have tried to shut down that approach, with exactly the thought that you were having! I can see that discussion with DD now. "No, honey, you can't name them Gavin and Ty." "But teacher said so!"

Well, about the triangle -- I'm glad it's not just me. I thought I was missing something really stupid, there. I'll have to ask the teacher exactly what it was they were looking for.

It was made more complicated by the fact that I couldn't find a compass and had to make one from a pair of scissors. I thought about cutting out a circle the right size, instead, but I didn't want to make it seem that much more difficult for DD.

I see nothing wrong with the question. I know sometimes my ds got a full explanation at school that some how never made it home.

Anything that initiates dialog at home cannot be a bad thing.

I to hope the discussion continued at school the next day. I bet it did.

I got an answer from the teacher. As it turns out, they were supposed to draw a 4cm line segment and then eyeball it to draw two more 4cm segments from those points. Which is what we started out with, but it was tricky to get them to come out in the right spots. She said they are just introducing them to the concepts.

Because, you know, math and geometry aren't precise things. Just guess at it.

Hmph. I think we'll name it Tony when it's finished.

Aha! So there was a specific intended method.

Bwah!