Topics: Starter | Shape

• N Rush,
•  
• Surely you only need 5 pencils? The top 2 can just be a single pencil?
• David, Ontario
•  
• The solution (with 5 or six pencils) does not guarantee 'squareness' as it depends on eyeballing the center of one pencil.
• Transum,
•  
• As N Rush and David correctly point out above there are different ways of making the two squares and, as we are using pencils rather than mathematical lines, the answers probably won't be exact. Nevertheless the activity should serve you well as a lesson Starter. It should capture the interest of the pupils. It should be easy for them to work on in small groups as between them they should have at least six pencils or pens. It should also encourage some mathematical, problem-solving thinking from the outset.

How did you use this starter? Can you suggest how teachers could present or develop this resource? Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for Maths teachers anywhere in the world.
Click here to enter your comments.

Previous Day | This starter is for 30 October | Next Day