class 8 NCERT bridge course Answers Activity W2.3- Exploring Polygons

 Activity W2.3- Exploring Polygons 

Students may be made to explore different polygons, identify their properties, and classify them based on sides, angles, and symmetry. 

Objective:

Help students identify, classify, and understand polygons by using clues, hands-on exploration, and real-life connections.

Materials Required 

1. Pre-made polygon cutouts (triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, etc.) 

2. A worksheet with clues and challenges 

3. Whiteboard and markers 

4. Straws or sticks 

How to Perform Activity 

 Warm-Up Discussion:

Show different polygon shapes and discuss sides, angles, classification and symmetry.

Ask: What do you already know about polygons?

Group Hunt:

• Hide polygon cutouts around the classroom.

• Divide students into small groups.

 Give instructions to each group with clues like: 

1. Find a shape with all 3 sides. 

2. Find a shape with 5 angles. 

3. Find a 4-sided figure with a pair of parallel side

4. Find a 4-sided figure with a pair of parallel sides. 

5. Find a 4-equal sided figure with a pair of parallel sides and 90-degree angle. 

6. Find a 4-sided figure with a pair of parallel sides and 90-degree angles. 

More such conditions can be thought of and discussed. 

 Each group searches for the correct shape and records its properties on the worksheet provided to them. 

 Each group presents one shape they found, explaining its properties. 

3. Presentation:
   Each group presents their shape, describing:

• Number of sides

• Number of angles

• Type of symmetry

• Real-world example.

ANSWER:

Clue	Expected Shape	Properties
1. Find a shape with all 3 sides.	Triangle	3 sides, 3 angles.
2. Find a shape with 5 angles.	Pentagon	5 sides, 5 angles.
3. Find a 4-sided figure with one pair of parallel sides.	Trapezium	Quadrilateral, 1 pair parallel sides.
4. Find a 4-sided figure with two pairs of parallel sides and 90° angles.	Rectangle	4 sides, opposite sides equal, all angles 90°.
5. Find a 4-sided figure with all sides equal and 90° angles.	Square	4 equal sides, all angles 90°.
6. Find a 4-sided figure with a pair of parallel sides and 90-degree angles.	Rectangle	4 sides, opposite sides equal, all angles 90°.

Extension

 Discuss real life examples of polygons (stop signs, tiles, windows, etc.). 

ANSWER:

Extension: Real-Life Polygon Examples

• Octagon → Stop signs

• Square → Tiles, windows

• Rectangle → Books, screens

• Pentagon → House-shaped signs.

Exploratory Questions Based on the Activity 

Teachers may generate a discussion on questions that require explorations.

 Here are a few examples— 

1. Is circle a polygon? 

ANSWER:

No, because a polygon must have straight sides, and a circle has a curved boundary.

2. Can we draw a polygon with 2 straight lines? 

ANSWER:

No, the minimum number of sides for a polygon is 3 (triangle).

3. Can we consider open figure as a polygon? 

ANSWER:

No, polygons must be closed shapes.

4. Can we consider square as a rectangle? If yes, then why? 

ANSWER:

Yes! A square is a special type of rectangle where all sides are equal, and all angles are 90°.

Hands on Practice 

1. Teacher may instruct students to draw a polygon using some clues, on a white board with the help of a marker. 

2. Students may also be encouraged to construct polygons with the help of straws and sticks, and given clues.

• Use straws or sticks to create polygons based on clues.

• Students can draw and label polygons on the whiteboard when the teacher gives clues.

• Assign teams to find real-world polygon examples around the school.

some clues for reference:

1. Draw a polygon with 3 sides — (Answer: Triangle)
   
2. Draw a polygon that has 4 equal sides and 4 right angles — (Answer: Square)
   
3. Draw a polygon with 4 sides, where only the opposite sides are equal and parallel — (Answer: Rectangle)
   
4. Draw a polygon with 5 sides — (Answer: Pentagon)
   
5. Draw a polygon with 6 sides — (Answer: Hexagon)
   
6. Draw a polygon with 8 equal sides — (Answer: Octagon)
   
7. Draw a polygon where no sides are equal and no angles are equal — (Answer: Scalene Quadrilateral or Scalene Triangle)
   
8. Draw a closed shape with 7 sides — (Answer: Heptagon)
9. Draw a 4-sided figure that has only one pair of parallel sides — (Answer: Trapezium)
10. Draw a regular polygon with all sides and angles equal, and more than 4 sides — (Answers: Pentagon, Hexagon, Octagon, etc., depending on the count)
11. Draw a polygon that has 4 sides, two of which are parallel but not equal.
12. Draw a polygon with 5 sides — all sides need not be equal.
13. Draw a polygon that has 6 sides, where all angles are equal.
14. Draw a 3-sided polygon where two sides are of the same length.
15. Draw a 4-sided polygon with all sides equal and all angles equal.
16. Draw a polygon that looks like a house rooftop (Hint: it's a pentagon).
17. Draw a 4-sided polygon where no sides are parallel.
18. Draw a quadrilateral where only one pair of opposite sides is parallel.
19. Draw a polygon with the least number of sides.
20. Draw a polygon that looks like a star (students can creatively connect lines, making a complex polygon).