Angle Fans – Measuring Angles Made Fun!
Angles is a fun Maths topic to teach – but let me show you a way to take those measuring angles lessons to the next lesson!
I first discovered Angle Fans when I was teaching Year 5. They have since become an activity that I include every year in my upper primary Maths classes to expore angle properties and to practise measuring angles informally. I am excited to share the idea with you so that you and your students can hopefully join in on the fun with me!
Curriculum links
But before I explain to you how to make them, let me explain what outcomes this little activity can be ticking off (or at the very least contributing to the learning of!):
Year 6 Maths
Identify the relationships between angles on a straight line, angles at a point and vertically opposite angles; use these to determine unknown angles, communicating reasoning (AC9M6M04)
Year 5 Maths
Estimate, construct and measure angles in degrees, using appropriate tools including a protractor, and relate these measures to angle names (AC9M5M04)
Year 4 Maths
estimate and compare angles using angle names including acute, obtuse, straight angle, reflex and revolution, and recognise their relationship to a right angle (AC9M4M04)
I probably wouldn’t try this activity with kiddos any younger than year 4. It is a little fiddly and may become a class management nightmare if you want them to complete it independently!
The Process
Step 1 Decorate and then cut out two squares of paper or choose two coloured squares of paper already to cut to size. *Decorate both sides so you see the decorations after folding.
Step 2 Concertina fold each square by folding over and under, over and under until you have two springs.
Step 3 Fold your springs in half so the open ends meet and glue the halves together. Let them dry for a few minutes.
Step 4 Now you are going to glue each of the squares together to create a larger fan. Let them dry for a few minutes.
Step 5 Get two popsticks and have an adult help you to cut one curved end off. Put some glue on a popstick and stick it in the first fold of one side of your fan.
Step 6 Do the same with the other popstick to the other side of the fan.
Step 7 Now you can pull out the fan by the popsticks to make some angles! Pull it gently right around to form a circle!
So what do you reckon? Will you try this activity next time you are teaching angles to your upper primary students?
For more fun activities like this one, check out our Year 6 Angles Properties Maths unit:
Or our Year 5 Measuring Angles Maths Unit:
I hope you found this helpful!
