Physical school is on alternate weeks & it’s back to mummy’s homeschool this week. El was trying to solve this problem:
How many different shapes can you make using 5 square tiles?
(ICAS Math Intro Paper, 2014)
He drew several shapes. (Pictorial)
I thought of using our Blokus game pieces. (Concrete)
Jae was interested & joined in. (Social)
“How many shapes using 5 tiles are there?” (Sorting)
“Are there more shapes you can think of?” (Thinking)
“Try sketching the shapes.” (Motor)
I sorted the shapes with 5 tiles into types and we did some observation & discussion:
5 pieces
4+1 pieces
3+2 and 3+1+1 pieces
2+2+1 pieces
Oh, so this problem is also about ways to make 5! (Number bonds)
Jae & El continued to play a round of Blokus. (Application, 30min recess)
Question: How many shapes did you manage to get?
