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Alien
Functions and Alien
Formulas involve working out functions and using simple
formulas to describe them.
Archimedes' bathroom and Matchstick
patterns involve working out a rule for repeating patterns.
Archimedes' bathroom: Pattern
1 Pattern 2 Pattern
3
Alien Functions simulates a calculator with nine extra
buttons. The task is to work out what function each of these
buttons carries out.
Alien Formulas simulates a spreadsheet. The task is to
work out nine formulas.
There are five levels of difficulty for each activity. |
Using the
Alien Functions , Alien
Formulas, Matchstick patterns
and Archimedes' bathroom could assist in the teaching of
the following
Links to
the National Numeracy Strategy:
Years 5 and
6 example, Pages 78-81: Solve mathematical problems or puzzles,
recognise and explain patterns and relationships, generalise and
predict.
Make and
investigate a general statement about familiar numbers.... express
a realtionship in symbols and start to use formulae (Year 6).
Years 4:
Start to express a relationship orally in words.
Years 5:
Start to express a relationship in words, orally and in writing.
Years 6:
Example: write a formula for the nth term of this sequence:
3, 6, 9, 12......
Links to
the National Curriculum:
Key Stage
2 :
Number
Pupils should
be taught to:
- make connections
in mathematics and appreciate the need to use numerical skills
and knowledge when solving problems in other parts of the mathematics
curriculum.
- develop
logical thinking..
- understand
and investigate general statements.
- recognise,
represent and interpret simple number relationships, constructing
and using formulae in words then symbols.
Key Stage
3 :
Number
Pupils should
be taught to:
- make connections
in mathematics and appreciate the need to use numerical skills
and knowledge when solving problems in other parts of the mathematics
curriculum.
Algebra
Pupils should
be taught to:
- express
simple functions, at first in words and then in symbols.
- use linear
expressions to describe the nth term of an arithmetic sequence..
Level 5
They construct, express in symbolic form, and use simple formulae
involving one or two operations.
Level 6
They represent mappings expressed algebraically.
When exploring number sequences, pupils find and describe in words
the rule for the next term or nth term of a sequence where the rule
is linear.
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