VISUAL ARTS AND MATH

The Shapeshifter
This activity is based on the book The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns, which is available in the Museum’s Teachers Resource Center.

The Greedy Triangle tells the story of a triangle unhappy with its shape. He visits the local shapeshifter to add more lines and angles until he doesn’t know which side is up.

Materials:
The Greedy Triangle book and large open space.

Goals/Objectives:
After completing this activity students will be better able to identify shapes, angles and lines as well as work with others to solve problems.

Procedure:
After reading the story (or discussing lines and shapes with students) make a large open space in the classroom. Assign one student the role of the shapeshifter. The remaining students should be in a large circle or horseshoe and able to see the shapeshifter who stands in the middle. The shapeshifter is in charge of selecting students to assemble lines and shapes
in the center of the space.

1. First the shapeshifter selects one student to go to the center of the space. This student lies on the floor to make a line. This student must figure out where and how to make the line using only their body.

2. The shapeshifter then selects another student to change the line. The two students must work together to create a new line, angle or shape, if possible.

3. After the group has made a new shape the students not participating should identify the new shape or line. A new person can be added to the group until everyone is included. The last assignment the shapeshifter gives is to make a circle.