Max Maths, Year 4, Learn together, Angles (1)

In an engaging lesson from the Max Maths Year 4 curriculum, children explore the fundamental concept of angles using a simple and relatable object: ice-cream sticks. The lesson begins with a creative setup where two ice-cream sticks are connected with a pin, allowing one of the sticks, designated as the blue stick, to rotate around the pin. This rotation demonstrates the formation of an angle, a key geometric concept that measures the amount of turning between two lines and is quantified in degrees.

The lesson then delves into the various ways to represent and name angles, using the model created by the ice-cream sticks as a reference. Children learn that angles can be denoted in different manners. Firstly, an angle can be described using three letters, such as ∠ABC, which is read aloud as 'Angle ABC'. Alternatively, the order of the letters can be reversed to ∠CBA, pronounced as 'Angle CBA'. In both cases, the crucial point to remember is that the middle letter represents the vertex where the two lines of the angle meet. Lastly, an angle can also be identified by a single letter placed at the vertex, like ∠T, which is simply called 'Angle T'. This lesson provides a foundational understanding of how angles are formed, measured, and named, setting the stage for further exploration of angles in geometric contexts.