Stage-based Problem Solving Activities
The four books in this series cover Early Stage 1, Stage 1,
Stage 3 and Stage 3. For ES1 to Stage 2, the problems provide a complete
coverage of the NSW Outcomes. Stage 3 focuses more on the Working Mathematically
strand.
Each of the problems in this series has teacher notes that
include a problem solving guide, suggestions for how to reflect on the solutions
that the children find, and extensions that take the problem a bit further.
The following example is taken from the Stage 1 and gives a practical
application of the Space concepts.
The Problem - 20 Straws
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Using twenty drinking straws, make a construction that is
strong enough to hold your exercise book. How high can you make the
construction?
You can use sticky tape and scissors to help you.
Construction
Hints
Here's a good way to
join 2 straws. 
 
Put
the straws end to end. Pinch the end of one straw and squeeze it inside the
other straw. Tape over the join to make it really strong. You
can use this technique to make triangles and squares that you can tape together
to make your construction.
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Teacher
Guide
After
the experimentation, ask the children to draw a plan of the construction that
they are going to make before they begin to build it. Although the plan may not
look much like the final construction it will help the children to think before
they just rush in. All should be encouraged to see that planning is helpful in
terms of gathering ideas and making a strong model.
If the
children are planning on using squares and triangles to make their constructions
you might like to challenge them to answer this question before they begin work:
"With
exactly twenty straws how many squares and triangles can you make?"
Then
ask the children to say how this information will help them with their plan.
Reflection
When
the constructions are complete, create an atmosphere of excitement with a drum
roll or similar ra-ra and then invite each group of children to demonstrate and
test their constructions. Make a big deal of measuring the constructions and
recording the heights. Finally ask the children what sort of considerations they
had to have in mind as they planned and built their constructions. Questions
about types of joins, shapes and arrangements of shapes will focus on the key
aspects of using shapes to build with.
Extension
As the
aim of this activity has been to help the children see the benefit of using
basic shapes as building blocks for construction, they will be able to explore
the potential of these shapes for building bridges. Place two desks about 500 mm
apart, and challenge the children to make a bridge that can hold a heavy object.
You will need to allow the children to anchor the bridge ends.
