Algebra- The World of Patterns

We have begun to explore patterns in algebra. This week some of us used the ideas of supermarket displays to work out how a pattern can grow. 

We had to work out how many cans in total would be needed to make a display 10 rows high. Then we had to work out what the rule is that makes the pattern grow evenly. It was super tricky. We will keep practising to help our brains grow new connections about how patterns are formed.

We have also been learning about function patterns and how to use a table to find the pattern

Visual Maths and Dot Talks

How is a number made up of other numbers?

This term we have begun to learn about Number Sense using Dot Talks. Number Sense helps us to understand and explore the possibilities of breaking up numbers and putting them together (proportional reasoning).

Dot Talks are a visual way to represent numbers. The importance of making mathematics visual is discussed in this article from Professor Jo Boaler at Stanford University link here.

We have been learning about how everyone can see numbers in different ways as a way to help us understand different strategies for addition and subtraction, recognise patterns of numbers, able to describe our thinking (mathematical logic and reasoning) and to learn from each other's strategies.

We also learn how to correct our mistakes by making our thinking visual (and we know that mistakes help our brain grow!).

Here are some examples:

How did you put the dots together?

Patterning

Patterns.

Today we made some repeating patterns, like.... square, circle, square, circle, etc.

And we made a symmetrical pattern of a chicken, doing the same drawing on the other side of the grid paper.

And we did some number patterns, adding or subtracting numbers.