Why do this problem?
This activity is good for giving pupils the chance to
explore shapes, order their solutions and create a system for
getting all the solutions. It will provoke much discussion,
encouraging learners to articulate their own ideas so providing
a need to use appropriate vocabulary.
Possible approach
It would be good to have some time together using the
interactivity on an interactive whiteboard. You could start by
making a few examples as a whole group so that the aims are
clear.
Give children time to explore other arrangements in pairs,
using triangles cut from paper or card, or plastic shapes if
you have them. If you do not have a large supply of these,
you'll perhaps want to encourage pupils to record their
arrangements in some way -
isometric paper
would be helpful.
Key questions
How are you checking that you have not got any of them twice?
Can you tell me about the way you're finding new arrangements?
Possible extension
What about getting pupils to ask "I
wonder what would happen if we ...?"
Possible support
It would be a good idea to start with the
Triangle Animals problem which involves making the
different arrangements of three triangles.