Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Editorial Team
Congruency in figures is a geometry-based skill taught to math beginners. The concept of congruency takes you closer to the reasoning part of understanding mathematical relationships. It propels kids to apply logic to establish this relationship.
Learning this concept requires applying an understanding of orientations too, as congruency does not end if the shapes are reflected, translated, or transferred to different planes. It is different from the concept of ‘similarity’ where the figures are resized. In this post, we walk you through why to teach congruence to kids and the list of engaging games to master congruency.
Why teach congruence to kids through games?
Congruence may look a bit challenging at the start. The reason is the eyes have to set on more than one figure simultaneously and process the image in mind to match or orient to establish a relationship. Gamified ways of teaching congruence, for example, doing congruent triangles games and activities, offer the following benefits:
- Allows solving congruence problems using different approaches
- Offers proficiency-appropriate challenges to practice concept
- Drives kids into concentrating on learning better with more practice
- Enables the mind to see real-life applications of concept through various backdrops
- Offers easy engagement solutions suitable for kids’ specific learning needs or unique characteristics
- Introduces kids to practical insights into the congruency concept
Hence, games offer an engaging study tool to master congruency and solve problems based on it. When you need a resource in addition to books and flashcards, you can switch to games to mix fun with learning. Here is the list of 8 hand-picked games that focus on identifying congruent figures and finding various variables while applying this concept.
1. Pick matching circles game
Shapes are a basic geometry concept taught at the elementary level in schools. This game utilizes the knowledge of shapes to match the cue shape with others. Every round offers a different set of figures. You can score your performance in the form of hits and misses. Little learners can get into combat and challenge each other to add more to previous scores.
An element of challenge is added to the game by adding similar figures in the collection to pick from. It proves effective for those kids who need to work more on their reasoning skills. The game boosts the thinking process in kids who may be comfortable with discriminating between two different shapes but may get stuck when asked to perceive sameness.
2. Pick congruent triangles rules
Moving higher in complexity levels, the games on congruent shapes may focus on rules that define this concept. Geometry or trigonometry are the areas of study where you may need to apply the congruence concepts. When you have understood the sameness among figures, further exploration takes you to rules. SAS, SSS, ASA, etc. are some of the rules that define congruence in triangles. This game offers you working support to practice and augment the learning of these rules.
Designed in a quiz manner, the game requires you to identify congruence rules and ascertain whether the two figures display sameness or not. It is quite an absorbing game that melts the gap between conceptual knowledge and practical application and gives you ample practice to apply rules correctly. Speed up to get more fluidity in the thinking process, a quick tip!
3. Guess side length
Congruence in triangles means the sides and the corresponding angles are the same. These are not proportionate as they appear in the concept of similar triangles. So, apply the rules from SAS, SSS, ASA, and options and answer this quiz correctly. A repertoire of questions is shot one after the other. The sooner you answer, the higher the scores you achieve. This quiz is a gamified version of the worksheets you get to solve in classroom sessions.
Ideal for everybody including starters and homeschoolers, this game offers you a playful break from the books. It works in three ways to build your geometry skills. You identify congruence, retrieve the rule, and apply it to reach an answer. Thus, the learners boost identification skills, and associative memory, and enhance memory recall to be the champ of this game.
4. Snap game
How about adding a little motor skills practice while solving congruence problems? This game does precisely that! Designed for geometry beginners, the game requires you to be alert and quick in thinking. A new tile containing a figure is displayed one after the other below the cue figure. You need to press P or Q from the keyboard every time the congruent figure appears. Imagine the alertness and concentration dose the game can offer!
This game scaffolds the congruence concept of learning by working on the part of quick thinking. It can provide a suitable workout for the brain and prepare it for time-pressed challenges. The game can be played in pairs and get the competitive feel added to its fun quotient.
5. Tug of War
A more interesting take on the snap game, this tug-of-war game walks you through the shape identification drill in an engaging manner. You can have your partner by your side and give each other the names as red or blue team. You have to be quick in thinking to press the key that corresponds to the figure congruent to the cue shape that appears. This game is ideal for congruency concept beginners and provides them with the premise to be comfortable with this idea.
Before moving to the technicalities of identifying and establishing congruence in figures, you can soak up the basics sustainably by playing this ‘match and pick’ game. It serves the purpose of learning shape identification, boosts concept recall, and promotes quick thinking.
6. Memory game
Congruence remains between the two figures even when they are rotated or transferred to a different plane. It is evident in the reflection of the figure too. This idea is employed in designing this congruence figures quiz. The learners will pick the figure from the given options, and get the score in their favor only when the choice is correct. The drill lies in identifying the congruent figure from the options which may be rotated or maybe a mirror image, etc. Thus, this game provides ample workout to the brain and boosts reasoning abilities.
The game can be played individually or with a partner where each person takes turns to answer the ensuing quiz. This memory game offers much-needed practice to starters and provides them a pretext to challenge their minds to think differently but within realms of the rules.
7. Congruent Shapes
What better way to test congruence than to manipulate figures to see if they are of similar shape and size? This interesting game by PBS Learning Media allows players to do just that, so they can easily determine if two figures are congruent or not.
A selection of shapes is available on the left side for players to sort out which figures are congruent and which are not. A work area is provided where players can drag figures and use the ‘rotate’ and ‘reflect’ options to match the two shapes. After arranging them in order, players can click on the ‘check congruence’ button to know if the shapes are congruent or not.
The game encourages players to think critically as it poses questions that require players to give explanations on why or why not two are considered congruent.
8. Match shapes
If a bigger collection of figures to pick from seems overwhelming, take baby steps by choosing from a pair of options only. This matching figure game helps achieve better concentration and is designed for those little kids whose thinking tends to take flight when bombarded with information overflow. The game allows taking it slow and matches the learning needs of students who have learning difficulties.
An array of questions comes in succession and displays different figures. Thus, a variety of inputs boosts critical reasoning abilities. Children can grasp the idea of sameness, and simultaneously, appreciate the difference that triangles, circles, squares, and other basic figures offer to their minds to decode.
Conclusion
The idea of congruence may perplex students at the start due to the inability to fix their gaze or poor concentration. These challenges may be overcome with practice and perseverance. Along with real-life examples of congruent figures, games offer a convincing tool to drive kids into learning sameness and differences in figures and establishing related reasoning.
Since the games chosen above are available on devices, children can practice congruence problems anywhere, anytime, and get an easy respite from books. Practice these often not only as a starter but also to revisit the learned concepts to reinforce the base to move to complex problems confidently.
I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.