Dear all,
The May edition of the NRICH website (www.nrich.maths.org) is now live and
this month focuses on Geometry, Shape and Space. We are sure there is
something shapely for everyone, no matter what level of mathematics you are
working at!
Why not start by investigating some of the ideas associated with
tessellation with your pupils? In Cover the Camel
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4866>), children are
challenged to fill in the camel's outline using the pieces given. Where
might be a good place to start?
Have your class ever noticed that patchwork is tessellated shapes? Can
they construct the individual pattern needed for A Patchwork Piece
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4867>)?
Do your students know the difference between a regular and a semi-regular
tessellation? They can find out in our Semi-Regular Tessellations problem
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4832>) and then progress
to finding all the semi-regular tessellations using the interactivity.
At a higher level, why not go on to explore frieze patterns? The Frieze
Tree article (<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1349>) gives
an overview of these fascinating patterns that repeat in a line. Invite
students to tackle A Roll of Patterned Paper
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4912>) and design their
own unit shapes so that the strip looks the same after a half turn, or has
a vertical line of symmetry. If your class is familiar with complex
numbers, then do look at Footprints
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4897>) and encourage them
to try to explain how the footprints frieze is generated. Even the Su Doku
(<http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=4923>) this month has a
repeating pattern theme.
Thanks to all of you whose pupils sent in solutions to the March/April
problems - don't forget to look to see whether their names have been
mentioned.
With best wishes from The NRICH Team.
Liz Pumfrey
NRICH Primary Teacher Research Associate
University of Cambridge Centre for Mathematical Sciences
Wilberforce Road
Cambridge
CB3 0WA
01223 764246
www.nrich.maths.org
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