Once students have learned about the different types of angles, they may start recognizing them as they appear in the world around us. While many things are built using right angles, students will be surprised to find that both acute and obtuse angles show up almost as frequently!
In this activity, students will identify the types of angles in different scenes. This exercise is also a helpful way to provide context for different angles because students have something tangible to look at outside of two lines on a screen or piece of paper. You can create the scenes for students or have them build their own to share with the class!
Extended Activity
As an extension to this activity, have students make labels and start to measure things in the classroom! Desks, books, classroom materials, and floor tiles are all things students can measure or label as they start to recognize angles around us. Students may also be able to measure the angles within the activity, whether that be on the storyboard or going out into the playground and measuring the angle on the slide in real life.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Identify and label the types of angles in each scene.
Using protractors helps students accurately measure and compare angles in real-world objects, making geometry more hands-on and meaningful.
Show students the baseline, center point, and degree markings on a protractor. Explain how each part is used to measure angles correctly.
Align the center point with the angle’s vertex and the baseline with one side of the angle. Emphasize accuracy for reliable measurements.
Have students identify where the other side of the angle crosses the protractor’s scale. Remind them to use the correct number scale for the angle’s direction.
Encourage students to measure angles on desks, books, or windowsills. Let them record and compare their findings to deepen understanding.
Start by showing common objects and scenes where angles appear, like desks or playground equipment. Encourage students to label and measure these angles in their environment, making learning hands-on and relatable.
Classroom examples include: the corners of books (right angles), the slant of a desk (acute or obtuse angles), and floor tiles (right angles). Challenge students to find and label these around the room.
Create scenes or let students build their own using drawings or classroom objects. Have them identify and label acute, obtuse, and right angles within each scene for a fun, interactive lesson.
Use a protractor or angle ruler. Students can measure angles on objects like books, desks, or floor tiles, then compare their findings to classify each angle as acute, obtuse, or right.
Recognizing angles in real life makes math more meaningful and shows students how geometry applies to the world around them, boosting engagement and understanding.