Introduction

These open-ended activities are designed to allow our children to demonstrate their mathematical creativity. Both involve manipulating triangles to strengthen their understanding that rotating a shape does not change the shape itself, it just puts it in a different place (or orientation).

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A Perfect Introduction to today’s activities.

“NOTES ON A TRIANGLE”

This short animation film is charming.  The triangle achieves the distinction of principal dancer in a geometric ballet. The triangle is shown splitting into some three hundred transformations, dividing and sub-dividing with grace and symmetry to the music of a waltz. The film’s artist and animator is René Jodoin. Film without words. Directed by René Jodoin – 1966

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TRIANGLE SHAPES

Here are two triangles. See what shapes you can make by using many of them.

I have attached 2 sheets of triangles to cut out and use.

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You might try putting them together like this:

TessYell

 

OR making something similar.

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Sometimes you can make “jewel-like” shapes:

JewelSmall

See what “jewels” you can make.

Green Triangles pdf

Yellow Triangles pdf

I would love to see photos of your designs.  Please have your parents share them with me.

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TRIANGLE ANIMALS

We can join two equilateral triangles together along their edges like this.

How many different ways are there to join three equilateral triangles together? (You must match an edge to an edge.)

How do you know you have got them all? You may find it useful to print out and cut up triangles PDF.

TRIANGLE ANIMALS PDF

QUESTIONS:

 How many different ways are there to join 4 equilateral triangles together?

Have you got a system for checking that you have them all?