Can You See a Pattern?

Today both year 8 groups were asked to discuss and solve a number of Algebraic patterning tasks. These started off with basic colour patterns and gradually built up to number patterns and representations where they needed to work out the rule/formula/relationship of that sequence.

Patterning is, "critical to the development of mathematical concepts and algebraic thinking and reasoning. General mathematical processes of representation, symbolization, abstraction, generalization and proof rely on initial pattern recognition and application in a variety of shapes, counting, spatial arrays or geometric patterns" (Bobis, Mulligan & al, 2013, pg 54).

As they worked in a group, it allowed every member of the group to contribute. In Group 3, one person made a suggestion of the relationship between the first three numbers in:

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, __

which helped others in the group to explore that idea further which eventually ended with the discovery of the pattern and the answer.

Below is a picture of some of the tasks I used today.

Working towards Stage 7

Both year 8 groups (group 3 & 4) and my year 5 group (group 1) have been working on multiplicative strategies using arrays. Arrays are rows of objects that are used for the children to be able to see groups rather than single objects. The arrays we have been using are animal strips. Each group has started off using the strips to partition (break up) additively then they use multiplication and additive strategies to solve the answer. Using arrays also helps to correct children's misunderstanding of what multiplication looks like i.e. 6 x 3 is 6 groups of 3 whereas 3 x 6 is 3 groups of 6. Though they have the same answer, the arrays look different so using the materials helps clarify this in their minds : )

In the videos below you will see the students explaining their strategy. What the students are doing:

To solve 27 x 6, 

27 is split into 20 and 7 and these parts are multiplied then recombined, as in: 

20 x 6 = 120 

7 x 6 = 42 (or 7 x 5 = 35 and 7 x 1 = 7) 

120 + 42 = 162)

Group 1 (Mya, Heseti, Ripeka, Michael, Sacred)

Group 3 (Paul, Bethel, Teri, Faleupolu, Vera)




Group 4 (Andre, Giovanni, Losana)

Term 1 Groups Begin

I am so excited to have begun working with my wonderful students.

I have four groups - 2 x year 8s, 1 x year 2/3 and 1 x year 5's. Here are some of these awesome kids below.

Group 1

Mya, Michael, Ripeka, Sacred, Heseti

Group 2

Serenity, Shaza, Dorothy, Sisilina

Group 4

Giovanni, Losana, Andre

Group 3

Teri, Vera, Faleupolu, Paul, Bethel