Master the Rhombus Shape from recognition to construction.
The Rhombus Shape is usually introduced to your child in First Grade. When this shape is introduced it usually coincides with the introduction of the kite shape. The reason for this is due to the similarities of the two. It is important to note here, that a rhombus is a kite, but a kite is not a rhombus.
The seven steps detailed bellow take you from basic identification all the way through to taking a detailed look at the theorems involving the rhombus. These steps also include 'pit stops' to complete fun geometry projects and coloring sheets.
These are nice 'breathers' on the learning curve, but they are excellent ways of reinforcing the new knowledge in ways that your kid can get a real life, hands on approach to understanding the basic geometry concepts included.
Okay, so let's get started ...
How do we know what we look at is a Rhombus?First and fore most it is a quadrilateral which is a 4 sided plane shape.
The table bellow is intended to be read from left to right. Chose any shape from the left hand column, and by moving right, you can see what other shape qualities it posesses.
Once your child is comfortable with how to recognize the shape, offer them some shape worksheets to see how they get on with identifying the shape when compared with others. You may also find our Quadrilateral Family Tree Printable a useful tool to offer your child.
Calculate Area and Perimeter
How to calculate the Area and Perimeter of a Rhombus.
Please note your child WILL be expected to remember these formula.
The Area of this shape is calculated by multiplying its base by its height.
If you are only given the lengths of the diagonals you can also use this formula:
You can see that this is infact the same formula for calculating the area of a kite.
If your child has problems understanding the concept of Area, I recomend working with second grade 'grid method' worksheets first, and then move on to fourth grade worksheets using numbers and finally word problems.
The Perimeter of ANY shape is simply the sum total of all the lengths of the shape.
The perimeter of a rhombus is the sum of its lengths.
However, since ALL sides are the same length, the formula is simplified to reflect this!
How to construct a ParallelogramTo complete this, you will need a ruler, pencil, compass, protractor, and a blank piece of paper!
Note: This construction is based upon having the knowledge of the perpendicular height of the rhombus along with the size of one angle. [For this example I will construct with an angle of 45 degrees]
Step 1: Draw a straight line lightly using your ruler and pencil on your paper. - This is what we call a construction line, and will be the base of your shape.
Step 2: Indicate one point which will be the bottom left hand vertex (corner).
Note:We know that the top and base line of your rhombus are parallel, and, we know the distance between them (the height of your shape)
Step 3: Using your compass, construct two lines (lightly) perpendicular to your base. On both of these lines measure the height of your rhombus, and indicate with two points (one on each perpendicular) Connect these two points using a light construction line. The second side of your rhombus will be 'somewhere' on this line.
Step 4:Using your protractor, situated on the first point you made (in Step 2) measure your angle - in this example 45 degrees.
Step 5:Connect the points of intersection, to make the third side of your rhombus.
Step 6:Now use your compas to 'measure' the distance of this line segment. As all the sides of a rhombus are equal in length, you can use this same distance to find the third and fourth points of intersection to create your fourth and final side.
Step 7: Your rhombus shape is contained between the four points of intersection of these four lines.
Step 8:Using a heavier line connect the four points to finish your shape.
Relationship to 3D ShapesThere are no 3d Figures an elementary student will have to study in relation to the rhombus, but it would be good to have them compare a prism made with a recangle and a rhombus. The latter will infact be an oblique cuboid. Bellow is a diagram of a trapezoidal prism, deconstructed into two triangular prisms. and a Cuboid
Any prisim created using a parallelogram (and a rhombus is a parallelogram), can indeed be deconstructed in a similar fashion.
It would also be a very good idea to compare this shape to other quadrilaterals.
Geometric Coloring SheetsThe use of coloring sheets allows your child to start experimenting with different shapes. A great first step is to encourage your child to color in shapes adjacent to eachoter with the same color, until their shape starts to look like 'something'. Perhaps that something will be a rectangle or a house. By doing this, your child will start to realize the connection between the shapes. You will find some nice free geometric coloring pages to download here.
Fun Geometry ProjectsCOMMING SOON!
Theorems & ProofsCOMMING SOON!