Basic Angle Types: Mathematics Classroom Activity Using Cards

Use as a check-up or revision activity, or with ESL students. The students work in teams to find the names of the angles.

There is another version of this activity, using Powerpoint rather than cards. Choose the card version for a class of students with a wide range of abilities. Consider the Powerpoint version if you have a homogenous group.

Download the file(s) you want to use, and print out the cards (in colour, if possible).

File with images only

File with anagrams only

File with anagrams and images (Easiest)

1. Divide the class into groups according to ability with 3 or 4 students to a group. Each group can choose a team name.
2. Each team should be given A3 or A4 paper on which to write their answers.
3. Explain that the teams will have to identify words associated with angles from images and/or anagrams (depending on which set of cards they are given). Correct spellings earn 3 points each; 1 point may be given for each correct answer with spelling mistakes.
4. Give each group their set of cards appropriate to their level/ability, face down.
5. Give the signal to turn over the top card and start.
6. One runner from each team should bring the team’s complete set of answers to you.
7. Award the points as detailed above.
8. Total the points for each team at the end and celebrate the winners!

Note that I have not specified which is the most difficult of the trio of files, as that will depend on whether you are mainly concerned with correct spelling or just angle type recognition at this stage. You can encourage correct spelling by awarding even higher marks for this. Points can obviously be adjusted downwards if that is not a priority at this stage (or ever!).

You could add cards with measures of angles: e.g. a card with "122^o" would be matched with the word "obtuse".

This may seem like a lot of set up and work for just a few minutes’ activity, but you can recycle both the Powerpoint and the cards year after year. In addition, the Powerpoint can be modified and used as an introduction to the topic, and could be left running “in the background” during a future class. The cards can also be reused next time you have to revise angles: put them in a folder or envelope pinned to a board so students can flick through them on their own, for instance. ESL teachers may appreciate being given a copy with the appropriate word written on the reverse.