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S: Shape and space
Here you will find additional support, guidance, activities and ideas for every sub-section in S Shape and space. If you’re accessing these pages via the QR codes in the book, the cloud symbols will help you locate where ideas and activities expand discussion in the main text of the book.
S1: Visualisation techniques and activities
Fibonacci website
Also Vi Hart’s series on “Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant” on YouTube. Part 2 and Part 3 are available too.
S2: Activities and investigations
More ideas page 120
Linda Pound gives a good account of these activities as schema in her book “Supporting Mathematical Development”
More ideas page 121
Tangram puzzles
More ideas page 122
Resources: Geostrips or Meccano, Poleidoblocks, Polydron, Clixi or ATM beer mats
page 123
Euler’s Theorem/Formula, and a version for kids. Euler produced a number of important theorems in his lifetime.
Betty Edwards “Drawing on the right hand side of the brain”
Wabi Sabi “Ordinary beauty”
page 125
Try to find the links between Passola, the Handshake problem, drawing Stars and Mystic Roses. Can you model this with LOGO or Scratch? Some Scratch challenges can also be found here.
S3: Working with cloths
page 130
NNS “Mathematical Vocabulary Book”
Jenny Eather “A Maths Dictionary for Kids” plus excellent additional resources
LOGO resources FMS LOGO (although do not use softonix)
A Bigtrak XTR can cost around £70, but can be controlled from a Smartphone. Plus there are lots of attachments to spend money on!
A Bigtrak Junior (which is smaller and with smaller battery requirement) can be found on eBay or Amazon.
Beebot floor robot, which will cost around £50
A standard Roamer-Too will cost around £90
Some very short LOGO programs can be seen here. Prepare to be amazed!
S4: Unusual and unfamiliar
Fibonacci website
Also Vi Hart’s series on “Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant” on YouTube. Part 2 and Part 3 are available too.
page 135
“Language and Word Problems” [View T6]
”Classroom Dialogue” [View T2]
More ideas page 137
Brain Gym and Break States. A summary is available here, and harder versions are also available. Adapted from activities from Dennison and Dennison (1986), Smith (1998), ATM (1987) and Liebling (1999).
S5: Changing shapes
page 141
Kinaesthetic learning: Handwriting patterns
Cat’s Cradle references and links and a demonstration
page 142
Moritz Escher artwork
How to make Escheresque tessellations
Anatomy of an Escher Lizard
Quilting patterns short film
Jigsaw Pieces terminology! You could use outie and innie, or tabs and blanks. Having recently done a fair bit of plumbing in France I used male and female.
page 143
Here are some further ideas to think about:
Curve stitching and complementary numbers, (avoiding the black velvet and silver thread).
The artwork of M.C. Escher, have a look at the Symmetry gallery
Celtic knots from Jo Edkin’s website
Maths in art from Leonardo da Vinci, Durer, Golden Section and Fibonacci
View photos of Islamic tiles.
page 145
Symmetry and capitals in the alphabet
Henry Liebling“Using an Urdhu Number Grid” [View T14]
page 145
Use the concepts of turning to the left (anticlockwise) and turning to the right (clockwise), just either walking out shapes and chalk drawings in the playground or using LOGO or a turtle type device to help children understand the nature, the quality and the quantity of a turn. This can also lead to thinking about handedness.
Use software such as SketchUp, LOGO and Scratch.