One cut

One cut

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about cross sections of 3-D shapes.
Questions/instructions
The block of cheese has been cut through with one straight cut. The cut made a square cross section.

Draw the cross section for each of these items of food.

Task administration: 
Equipment
This NEMP task was trialled on a one to one basis, however it could easily be carried out as an independent task.
Levels:
2, 3
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Geometry and Measurement, Shape
Keywords: 
nemp, cross-sections, 3-dimensional shapes
Description of task: 
For this NEMP task student draw the cross section indicated on 6 different food items.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Geometric thinking, set 3
Geometric thinking, sets 3-4
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 

 

Y4 (10/2001)

Y8 (09/2001)
Potato: Oval drawn.
Chocolate bar: Triangle drawn.
Banana: Circle drawn.
   Hexagon or similar drawn.
Pear: Pear shaped 2D image drawn.
Cheese: Rectangle drawn.
Cake: Rectangle drawn.

38%
32%
18%
3%
24%
16%
14%

62%
60%
48%
4%
54%
41%
41%

Commentary
Students found it hardest to identify the rectangular cross-sections for the cheese and cake. One quarter of the year 8 students and half of the year 4 students got none correct.