You may also like

problem icon

Seven Squares - Group-worthy Task

Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?

problem icon

Pair Products Poster

Pair Products Poster - January 2007

Train Spotters' Paradise

Stage: 3 and 4
Article by Dave Hewitt

In mathematics classrooms, we are sometimes guilty of being satisfied with a 'pattern-spotting' approach to learning mathematics. As part of our feature on Patterns in Number Sequences, the ATM have kindly given us permission to share the following article written by Dave Hewitt, where he alerts us to 'the richness that can be gained by looking at a particular situation in some depth, rather than looking at it superficially in order to get a result for a table and then rushing on to the next example'.

Train Spotters' Paradise, by Dave Hewitt
The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
Copyright © 1997 - 2012. University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.