In Shape to Race

Purpose

This is a Level 2 Geometry activity from the Figure It Out Series.
A PDF of the student activity is included.

Achievement Objectives
GM2-3: Sort objects by their spatial features, with justification.
Student Activity

Click on the image to enlarge it. Click again to close. Download PDF (265 KB)

Specific Learning Outcomes

identify basic attributes of two dimensional shapes.

Required Resource Materials
Attribute blocks

FIO, Level 2-3, Geometry, In Shape to Race, page 4

A large photocopy of this activity

Activity


This activity is an example of a logic track. It requires students to consider several attributes of a block simultaneously to find out whether the block can get from start to finish.
Students should justify their decision about which routes are best for the blocks they have chosen. For example, in considering the size attribute, big blocks should take Route 1 and small blocks Route 2. Selecting a quadrilateral (either a square or a rectangle) would mean taking Route 1 because the block could not pass through the tunnel on Route 2.

Students need to find ways to organise their thoughts about the characteristics of blocks that get to the finish. A table can be very helpful to record the different characteristics. The attributes can be crossed out on the table as they are eliminated:

table.

The table shows that any block can get to the finish provided that it is not yellow and students choose the correct route for that block. Students will enjoy creating their own logic tracks for other students.

Answers to Activity

Route 1 can be followed only by big red or blue blocks that are squares, rectangles, or hexagons.
Route 2 can be followed only by red or blue blocks that are triangles, circles, or hexagons.
Any block can get to the finish if it is not yellow and students choose the correct route for that block.

Attachments

Printed from https://nzmaths.co.nz/resource/shape-race at 5:59am on the 30th April 2024