Ideas+and+resources+from+Matt+Skoss

Matt's slideshow of photos. I've had to cull a couple that show images of kids for whom I don't have parental permission to show in a public place. eg. Kids doing 'Back to Building' with multilink cubes.

**Sphinx tile sorting task** Mathematicians ask two key questions: • How many ways can I arrange something? • How could I convince someone I have found all possible ways? Using two sphinx tiles, how may ways can I arrange them so that two edges being joined are congruent in length?This task can be extended by sorting two arrangements of two sphinx tiles in a Carroll Diagram. Learners have to attend to two mathematical attributes: • Type of symmetry • Perimeter This resource can be downloaded from: http://maths-no-fear.wikispaces.com/Sorting+Tasks The task can be extended (repeated) by challenging learners to complete the task in a self-nominated time using one of the many flash-based timers from the Internet. Several examples are here: http://maths-no-fear.wikispaces.com/Interactive+Learning+Objects
 * Making a net of a shower cap box**Key ideas:• Seeing the Mathematics in every-day objects (eg. McDonalds sign has line symmetry)• Having concrete manipulatives (eg. square and triangle flip tiles, square and triangle GeoShapes) on hand that learners choose to access• Having mini-whiteboards available, with poster paper to record different solutions...which forms part of the archaeological dig• Choosing mathematical challenges that have more than one right answer...resonates with key ideas offered by **//Open-ended Mathematics Questions//** (Peter Sulivan & Pat Lilburn), available online from: www.aamt.edu.au/shop**Classifying shapes according to area and perimeter**Key ideas:• Explicit teaching of area and perimeter required• Task can be varied by using a Countdown Timer to '//**create urgency**//'• Task can be done as whole group (theatre style), pairs of learners at desk, and on an IWB