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We have a box of solid shapes. In it there are cubes, triangular prisms, cones, cuboids, cylinders and tetrahedrons.
Which of the buildings below would fall down if we tried to make them? Which ones would be unstable and possibly collapse?
This problem helps children begin to understand the various properties of common geometric solid shapes. It also promotes discussion and experimentation concerning their features, and requires them to justify their ideas. Naming the shapes should be a help in discussion and description of what has been done, rather than as an exercise in its own right.
Why do you think that this building would fall down?
Children could build and draw their own buildings which balance.
If children are having difficulties with this problem then real solid shapes are essential. Encourage them to predict whether a building will fall down before asking them to make it (or something like it) to see if it does. Continue in this way until they are confident working on their own.
Vincent and Tara are making triangles with the class construction set. They have a pile of strips of different lengths. How many different triangles can they make?