Mini Starting Points for Mathematical Themes in the Primary School - Part Two

These resources from Shropshire Centre for Mathematics Education contain a selection of ideas, pertinent to a specific theme, designed to develop mathematical thinking skills.

Lines

Two sticks - differences and similarities of shapes
Draw - patterns of same length
Mirrors - reflect one line to show others
Rope - use to make particular polygons
Block prints - continuous line from repeated prints
Paper strips - weave to explore patterns
New shapes - explore division of polygons
Routes - travel around a grid
Calculator numbers - use sticks to create digits
Combinations - find different ways to join sticks
24 - explore how many rectangles have the same perimeter
Number grid - arrange digits to give equal line totals
Journeys - explore different stages on isometric paper
Points - use five sticks to create shapes
Sequences - explore possible patterns from different sequences
Curves - form using straight lines
Puzzle - create new shape following rules
Geoboard - explore quadrilaterals
Crossing points - investigate for different numbers of lines
Knight's move - explore movement on different grids
Squares - repeat pattern for different polygons

Tessellation

Polygons - find those which leave no gaps
Tiles - create patterns using colour
Environment - find examples that tessellate
Square - adapt basic tile to create new tessellation
Quadrilaterals - find as many as possible to show tessellation
Gaps - explore different patterns using squares
Tile - alter both pairs of opposite sides of a square
Investigate - modify other simple tile shapes
Escher - explore the pictures created from tessellations

Triangles

Pattern block - create shapes with different number of sides
Totals - investigate same line totals
Triangle patterns - look at number patterns
Prisms - explore number patterns in shapes
Solids - build using CLIXI
Geoboard - triangles on a nine dot grid
Equilateral - expand and explore number patterns
Midpoints - use to draw new triangles
Difference - use numbers at corners to find midpoint values
Isometric grid - explore triangles using seven dots
Tangram - create from equilateral triangle
Polygons - partition into triangles
Stack - investigate triangular arrangement
Number patterns - investigate a range of triangular situations
Two lines - count triangles within triangles
Halve - explore patterns and fractions
Angles - investigate interior angles
Polyominoes - create triangular polyominoes
Overlap - use equilateral triangles and explore the shapes formed
3D - draw cube models on an isometric grid
McMahon's triangles - a spatial logic puzzle

Weight

Arrows - use to order different weights
Replica - compare plasticene model and original
Cubes - discover hidden weights
Packages - create three parcels of equal weight
Model - calculate weight from a single cube
Estimate - score points for closest guess