What's Happening?
1 out of 3
Shapes are added to other shapes. Can you see what is happening? What is the rule?
Problem
What's Happening? printable sheet
We started with this pentagon.
Added a triangle:
Then another one:
What would come next, and why?
Can you invent something like these for your friends to solve?
Getting Started
What is the difference between the first shape and the second shape?
Where has the extra piece been added?
Student Solutions
From group 3, ict 2 pere at Olongapo City National High School, Ict in the Philippines, we had the following picture as a suggestion for the completion.
We had, from Harry at Stonebroom, the following:
I think that every side will have a triangle to make it a star
and from Ayesha from Gag in Pakistan we received this similar suggestion:
On the plan side we will add a triangle because it will be in the same form
from every side
Teachers' Resources
Using NRICH Tasks Richly describes ways in which teachers and learners can work with NRICH tasks in the classroom.
Why do this problem?
This activity can be useful for pupils to puzzle out what hidden rules produce the pictures. It gives an opportunity for pupils to share their thoughts and reasoning about how the shapes differ. This skill is important in our theme this month which is coding. Children need to be able to identify rules and patterns from data in order to be able to decode a piece of text so this task gives them practice in finding and describing these patterns and rules.
Possible approach
It would be good to have large card versions of shapes for groups of children to sit round and discuss the things they notice about them. The children can then start to make the shapes that they predict will follow. Sharing these will enable the pupils to express clearly what they see is the "rule" that is taking place between the shapes.
Key questions
Tell me about the shapes you think come next.
Why have you chosen this shape?
Why does it go there?
Can you describe a rule that explains what you are doing each time?
Possible support
Some pupils may need help in saying what they think as well as listening to others and thinking about what others have said.