School is over for the week. In the yard the workmen are getting ready to go home. Little Fung and Little Ming are getting in the way as usual .. but they have already attracted the attention of Chi Wing - the foreman.

LM: The teacher says there are twelve different shapes!

CW: That may be so, but I don't believe it.

LF: If joined together properly there are twelve - she said so.

CW: Have you found them?

(...pause)

CW: NO. You have not! I don't think you have anywhere near twelve solutions. You pair never work systematically at anything.

LM: We do have seven though Chi Wing.

CW: Listen just what were you asked to do? Little Fung you explain...

LF: Each 'animal' is made up of five squares.

LM: Always five squares!

CW: Little Ming shush, Little Fung carry on please..

LF: The squares have to be joined in a special way...

CW: Before, you said ONLY edge to edge, that is right isn't it?

LM: Yes, not corner to corner or ....

CW: Little Ming quiet - you never listen to the whole story..

LF: The edges must be completely touching each other.

CW: Show me please..explain..

( With squares of paper CW is shown....)

LM: But not like this ..

CW: So if we move them around systematically we should be able to find the twelve different ones.

LF: Yes...but we can only find seven..

LM: Perhaps we should have sketched out those we have already found.

LF: I think we should start again ..

CW: Yes let us start at the beginning ...with all the squares in a line..

LM: Let us begin by moving one square at a time..

CW: So which square shall we start with?

LF: Does it matter?

LM: Yes, if we are to be systematic like Chi Wing always is, and find all twelve..

CW: So instead of bickering - which square shall we start with?

In the meantime ........

Children you might like to:

1. Complete the silhouettes of Chi Wing studying the problem then working systematically.
2. Find the twelve animals that Little Ming and Little Fung are searching for.
3. Explore which of the animals could if joined together, be folded up to make a box.
4. Discuss with others what it means to be systematic and try to decide if you work systematically.
5. What if Little Ming and Little Fung had used six squares and NOT five - how many animals are now possible? How many of these animals could if joined together, make boxes with lids?

Parents you might like to:

1. Help find the twelve animals.
2. Talk about the things you do systematically about the house and at work.
3. Explore those times when you don't work systematically.
4. List the words that best describe how you and others work...
5. Devise ways of gauging how good a listener your youngster is.

Teachers you might like to:

1. Help find the twelve animals.
2. Examine the different ways in which they can be sorted and classified.
3. Explore the whole notion of being systematic? Especially in counting. e.g. Using six squares and not five. Does this relate to the easier(?) problem of using only four squares?
4. Consider what other ways of working are there?
5. Explore the work habits of others. Is there such a thing as 'best practice'? Devise ways of testing the listening capabilities of your pupils.