Protractors are difficult tools for students to get the hang of using. Seeing an angle as acute or obtuse is fairly straightforward, but trying to figure out exactly how many degrees are in the angle gets tricky. Be sure to point out all the parts of the protractor before showing how to use it, including the two sets of increasing and decreasing numbers. You can use a storyboard like “How to Use a Protractor” to demonstrate how to use the tool, but such a storyboard may be more beneficial for re-teaching or review.
“Measuring Angles” is a simple chart with a little Storyboard That flair. With this activity, students need to identify the type of angle, and then measure the angle with a protractor. Identifying if the angle is obtuse or acute will help students choose the appropriate set of numbers. It is certainly possible to use the protractor in Storyboard That to measure the angles on screen, but this storyboard can also be printed out so it's easier for little hands to turn. Students have to get used to angles in all directions, and may not be ready to read a protractor upside down!
Search math or protractor in the search bar for the transparent protractor item in the Storyboard Creator!
“Draw and Measure” is a more advanced version of the same activity. The biggest difference is that students would be required to use a protractor to construct angles. It is probably more important to print out this storyboard to enable and encourage students to construct angles in any direction.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Identify the type of angle and its measurement using the protractor item in the Storyboard Creator.