World of Tan 11 - The past, present and future

1501 /www/nrich/html/content/00/09/tan1/ 5 2011-02-01T00:00:01 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"> This activity follows on from <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/1500">World of Tan 10 - Butterflies</a> . <mdo:flash height="580" id="/content/00/09/tan1/1501-1-new.swf" width="600"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param> <param name="movie" value="/content/00/09/tan1/1501-1-new.swf"></param> <param name="flashplayerversion" value="7"></param> <param name="height" value="580"></param> <param name="width" value="600"></param> </mdo:flash> <mdo:flash height="600" id="/content/00/09/tan1/1501-2.swf" width="600"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param> <param name="movie" value="/content/00/09/tan1/1501-2.swf"></param> <param name="flashplayerversion" value="7"></param> <param name="height" value="600"></param> <param name="width" value="600"></param> </mdo:flash> It was 07:30 and Granma T's household was in disarray. For Little Ming and Little Fung it was the start of the new school term. The hustle and bustle had been caused by them getting all their things together at the very last minute. Just where were their pens, pencils, books, PE kit, plimsoles, lunchboxes? Eventually shining like new pins in their recently acquired uniforms with bags fully ladened Ming and Fung set off across the yard. By the entrance, the workmen were lined up to say goodbye and wish them luck. They would miss their two young helpers but could not resist passing teasing remarks as the children left: <blockquote>"Umm don't we look smart!" "Gosh it is going to be quiet today." "We shall get much more done though."</blockquote> Out in the street, Mai Ling had the car running ready to take the children to school. Most days the children sat in the back- quiet and contemplative or furtively finishing homework and asking questions. Today there was something amiss, a tension prevailed. Little Ming was clearly worried: Little Ming: We are bound to be asked to write about what we did in the holidays. Little Fung: Surely Ming, we can't write about the ransom and all that took place. Little Ming: No, Miss Chow King would never believe what happened, she would complain that it was all too far fetched. Little Fung: No, we can't tell her about you going to the zoo, leaving all that money in a litter bin, returning home, studying that old map and after many attempts eventually solving the problem. Little Ming: I suppose we could ignore all of that and only write about returning the lost plaque to Mr. Cheung, how he rewarded us and gave an enormous street party. Little Fung: Oh, what a stupendous party it was. Surely Miss Chow King heard about all those celebrations and the fireworks. Little Ming: Then she will have heard about us....getting the microscope and telescope. Little Fung: Surely everyone now knows that Lung Sing -disguised as a refuse collector, was arrested by Granma T's workmen posing as statues. How they grabbed him when he retrieved the money and made the fatal mistake of stopping to count it. Little Ming: Yea, but who knows about how Lung Sing was interrogated by Mr Cheung back at the yard? Little Fung: Least said about that the better, but he soon 'coughed up' about his father and who did what and why. Little Ming: What I don't understand is why Inspector Chang only appeared when everything had been 'sewn up'. Why had he apparently allowed Granma T to take charge of the whole operation? Little Fung: NO, you were right at the very first. I think it is better if we tell an entirely different story. Let's write about a day playing on the beach like everyone else. In class, after registration, Miss Chow King introduced the first task of the term. "Instead of writing about our holidays I thought we would do something different. I want you to imagine you had a really scary adventure during the past few weeks - maybe you really did! Write about an adventure you would like to have had if you had the chance. Right, start thinking." Little Ming and Little Fung were sure that Miss Chow King gave them a knowing wink! What were they to do now? In the meantime, complete the silhouettes using the interactivity. More activities can be found in the <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1501&part=note">notes</a> . The story continues in <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1502&part=index">World of Tan 12 - All in a Fluff</a> . </mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"> <mdo:image width="335" height="443" src="1501a.gif" alt="Solution to telescope"></mdo:image><mdo:image width="259" height="473" alt="Solution to microscope" src="1501b.gif"></mdo:image> </mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0">Children you might like to: <ul> <li>find different ways of writing 07:30 s</li> <li>how in three distinct ways the things you take to school everyday/ occasionally</li> <li>write about what you would like to do at school this year.</li> </ul> Parents you might like to: <ul> <li>examine other aspects of a youngster's day with regard to the 24 hour clock</li> <li>get the children to 'close their eyes and imagine the journey to school', with you questioning them about what they pass, what they see, who they recognise.</li> <li>make up strange words, like 'stupendous' that could be used for ... lots of, a small amount of, a long time and a very dull day.</li> <li>talk through the summer vacation and list all the things that have been done. You never know Miss Chow King may be their new teacher!</li> </ul> Teachers you might like to: <ul> <li>build on the root words microscope/ telescope and investigate the issue of enlargement and scale factors - making things larger and smaller examine different types of time pieces used through history</li> <li>get the children to estimate a passage of time - 3 minutes say and see how accurate/ inaccurate they have been. How can you represent these trials?</li> <li>build upon words like 'cough up' and sewn up'. What other words do the children know and what do they understand by them?</li> </ul> </mdoxml> 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 World of Tan 11 - The past, present and future Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the telescope and microscope? Information and Communications Technology Interactivities Mathematics Tools Tangram Transformations and their Properties Compound transformations Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics Practical Activity Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics Visualising