Shapes in the Environment Photos

Greetings, educators in Virginia!

As we embrace the gorgeous spring weather here on the East Coast, I couldn't help but capture the essence of this beautiful season in Virginia through my camera lens. I am excited to share a pot of vibrant petunias and a collection of captivating photos in this post, all at your disposal for classroom use!

Now, let's talk about the ever-evolving Virginia Standards of Learning we navigate as dedicated educators. The revised 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning required teachers to adjust collectively to the new objectives. As we master our instructional resources and strategies for a specific purpose, the standards undergo revisions, returning us to the "Drawing Board." The Virginia Department of Education plans to revise the standards again, with full implementation starting in the 2025-26 school year. The SOL assessments will align with the new standards. Such is the nature of progress and growth in education!


One of the changes made in the 2016 revision was the first-grade geometry standards.  Here is the updated version:

1.11  "The student will 

a) identify, trace, describe, and sort plane figures (triangles, squares, rectangles, and circles) according to the number of sides, vertices, and angles;  and

b) identify and describe representations of circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles in different environments, regardless of orientation, and explain reasoning. 

During a leisurely walk, I embarked on a photographic adventure, capturing an array of squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles through the lens of my camera. These photos are at your disposal for classroom instruction. However, kindly note that these images are for educational purposes, and commercial use is prohibited. The permission granted extends solely to the photos in this post and does not encompass other parts of my blog.
To access the photos, right-click on any image and select "SAVE IMAGE AS." Please choose a suitable name for the picture and save it to your preferred location on your computer or flash drive. You can also conveniently download the folder containing all 12 photos by clicking the provided link:  ENVIRONMENTAL PLANE SHAPES  

Rectangular Traffic Lights with Circular Signals

Circular Exit Location from a Drainage Pipe

Street Sign (Tilted Square)

Cement Squares

Brick Wall (Rectangles)

Negative Space Triangles through the Supports of a Bridge

Triangle at Top of Metal Structure and Negative Space Rectangles through the Split Rail Fence

Circles and Triangles on the Tractor's Wheel

Circular Hoops on Pavement

Circular Table Top

Circular Bottom of Potted Plant (See the first photo from this post.)

You could also delve into solid shapes to explore other geometric figures beyond the first-grade Virginia Standards of Learning. Consider mentioning the cylinder shape of a drainage pipe, for example. While the current standard focuses on the four basic plane geometric figures, this additional insight can broaden your students' understanding of shapes in the real world.

The photos in this blog post provided a wealth of ideas on how to seize everyday opportunities to expose your students to circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles in various environments. Who knows, your students will even discover shapes that I may have missed! Embrace their curiosity and encourage them to explore and identify geometric figures around them. Happy teaching!

Lessons by Molly © 2016  All rights reserved.