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reSolve: Authentic Problems: Pyramids in a Box

Teacher guide reSolve: Authentic Problems: Pyramids in a Box

TLF ID M024878

This sequence of four lessons focuses on working with solids and their nets. The lessons provide opportunities for students to work flexibly as they construct simple prisms and pyramids from nets they have created. Students record their mathematical thinking as they work through iterations to refine a box that has the least amount of left over space. Each lesson is outlined in detail including curriculum links, vocabulary, materials needed, sample answers, discussion points and student resources. This sequence is part of the reSolve: Maths by Inquiry special topic 'Authentic Problems'.

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Educational details

Educational value
  • This resource is extremely valuable for the year 6 mathematics content descriptions about constructing simple prisms and pyramids and investigating angles. Students manipulate three dimensional objects and geometric construction materials to draw nets, making the connection between the shapes and positions of the faces on the object and in the net. They explore the different nets that can make one three-dimensional object.
  • The resource is also valuable for supporting the Numeracy general capability. The lessons provides multiple opportunities for students to visualise, sort, identify and describe symmetry, shapes and angles in their investigation.
  • This resource is also of pedagogical value as it supports teachers in building an inquiry-focused learning environment with authentic application of mathematical skills and understandings. The unit uses a learning and teaching model with four phases: Discover, Devise, Develop and Defend. The unit aims to develop content knowledge as well as assisting students to understand the process of inquiry.
Year level

6

Topics Angles Straight angles Vertically opposite angles Pyramids (Polyhedrons) Cross sections (Planes) Prisms Inquiry-based learning
Learning area
  • Mathematics

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Australian Government Department of Education and Training
  • Organization: Australian Government Department of Education and Training
  • Publisher
  • Name: Australian Academy of Science
  • Organization: Australian Academy of Science
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: https://www.science.org.au/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Online
Rights
  • © Australian Government Department of Education and Training 2018. Unless otherwise indicated, this material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.