My 12 year old son has severe visual processing issues, and he usually compensates fairly well, but he is running up against a brick wall now that his class is learning about cubes and other three dimensional figures in geometry. He cannot visually understand a two dimensional representation of a cube, where the interior sides are drawn with dotted lines. We have used open shoe boxes to show him the interior sides; we have cut out paper cubes and folded them up - I think he knows what a cube is, but when he has to label a two dimensional representation, or answer questions about, say, a rectangular pyramid, he can’t seem to understand the drawing. Any programs out there to help with this sort of thing? Many thanks for your help.
Re: Three Dimensional Geometry - HELP!
There are a variety of software that can be used, but it depends on your computer make and power. AutoCad, MathCad, are programs used in drafting. They are high end and somtimes difficult to use.
Visualization in mathematics is an important concept and difficult concept. Let your son experiment with concrete materials that you have at home, cereal boxes, cans, bottles etc.
With my own child, we went the other way. We decided to package some cookies to give to my mother. He had to make the box for them and show me the design on paper. He then got to add all the artwork to the box. It made a lovely gift as he baked the cookies as well. He seems to have a better grasp now.
Re: Three Dimensional Geometry - HELP!
Dear Diane:
My son who is 10 also has visual-spatial issues and other LD’s. I am using ‘Magna-Tiles’ to create cubes, pyramids, and other geometric shapes. He builds the shape with the magnetized tiles and understands what’s inside, outside and around the shape and then can compare it to a flat picture and be able to count lines/edges/intersects, sides, top, and/or bottom. They have made it possible for him to understand the shapes and recognize them in 2D and 3D.
I think every classroom should have at least one set (32 pieces). They are distributed by Valtech co., PO box 2444, laGrange, Il 60525 Tel: 1-888 465-8307. FAX 1 708 246-4548. Unfortunately, I have not seen these tiles in my son’s school.
Selene
To Selene, Sara and Duncan
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. Selene, I also appreciate the information you’ve provided as to where to obtain the Magna-Tiles. They sound like what I’ve been lookong for. Thanks so much. Diane
More on Magna-Tiles
For anyone else interested in this topic, I did a little browsing and found the Magna-Tiles that Selene referred to at www.magnatiles.com. This looks like a great product that I wish I had for my son years ago. Thanks again.
Re: Three Dimensional Geometry - HELP!
I have a tutoring business for remedial math - all ages. I can recommend a really good software program for 3D math. “Mighty Math Calculating Crew”.
One of the activities involves 3D figures (e.g. cubes, prisms, pyramids, etc)which can be turned, rotated, colored and decorated. There is a stepwise program or it can be used in discovery mode. Most important for your son is that after decorating and coloring the 3D objects, they can be printed out as nets which your son could then fold together.
During the last 6 years, I have developed a number of study guides and sets of flashcards in close conjunction with my students (my wife and I had 60 between us at the end of this year). They are designed for dyslexic children - they have large print - a minimum of words, well illustrated and easy to follow format. If you would like me to send you a sample, please send me your mailing address and tell me what topics you are interested in - I will send some.
Re: Three Dimensional Geometry - HELP!
Sorry, Diane. I forgot to include my email address and say who I was.
Paul Lobel, B.Sc. B.Ed. Ph.D.
Careerwise Tutoring
St. John’s NF A1A 3J7 Canada
I taught math only one year and that was a while ago but at the time there were manipulatives available to teach geometry from. Your shoe box is a rough version of the same. Try visiting a teacher’s supply store or getting hold of a math supplies catalogue. Do a search and try to find a site for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. NCTM. They have an excellent catalogue of materials that might be of help.