Making triangle patterns

Making triangle patterns

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about shape patterns and how they change.
In this task you:
  1. use straws to build a pattern,
  2. make a prediction about how many straws you need for more patterns and
  3. write an explanation.
 
   

    Y  /  N
a) Your teacher will give you 3 straws. Use these straws to make a triangle.
 
b) Your teacher will give you 2 more straws. Add these 2 straws onto the triangle you have made so there are 2 triangles touching side by side.
 
c) Your teacher will give you 2 more straws. Now add these 2 straws onto what you have already made to make 3 triangles touching side by side.
 
d) How many straws did you use altogether to make 3 triangles? __________
 		  
e) How many straws would you need altogether to make 4 triangles? __________
 
f) How many straws would you need altogether to make 5 triangles? __________
 
g) i)
 
ii)		 How many straws would you need altogether to make 10 triangles? __________
 
How did you work this out?

 
 
 
 

 

Task administration: 

This task is completed with pencil and paper and opther equipment.
 

Equipment: Straws.

  • The straws can be cut into 3 equal pieces so this task can be carried out on a desk.
  • This task assesses a student's ability to build up triangular patterns using straws and predict the number of straws needed for the next pattern.
  • This task can be carried out by reading the instructions to students one at a time and/or giving them the instructions to read.
  • The checkboxes on the instruction sheet can be used to monitor the students as they make the triangles.

 

Level:
2
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Number and Algebra, Patterns and relationships
Keywords: 
spatial patterns, recursive rules
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to use straws to build up a linear pattern. Students then predict the number of straws needed for successive patterns and explain their rule.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Patterns and relationships, set 3
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
a)  

b)

c)

  

d)
e)
f)		   7
9
11
g) i)
ii)		 21
Counted up in 2's or 10 lots of 2 plus 1 or a similar statement that indicates understanding of the pattern.