Making Predictions

I was working with a grade 9 class today as they explored a neat activity that allowed them to make and test their predictions, explore some geometry, and get their hands on some math.

Step 1: make 2 strips of paper into loops. Tape the loops together so that the loops are at 90 degrees to each other.

Step 2 is to predict what will happen when each loop is cut down the middle of each strip. Groups talked, and came up with several different possible outcomes before actually getting out the scissors.

Step 3: cut the loops, and unfold to see what happens. (Spoilers below)

When one loop is cut and unfolded this is what we see.

This might be enough to see what will happen when the next loop gets cut.

That was quite a surprise! Groups were pretty astonished to see that it’s a square that is formed. We looked at the characteristics of a square, and how we know it’s a square.

Students were then prompted to see what changes to the initial conditions would create a rectangle that was not a square. It was interesting to see what they chose to change. Many had a good idea, and then tested the hypothesis.

The next challenge was to see how to change the initial conditions to end up with a parallelogram that was not a rectangle. Several groups succeeded with this challenge.

We had a good conversation about the properties of parallelograms, rectangles and squares, and will continue to debrief tomorrow on the topic.

This task encourages 3D spatial sense, making predictions, and deciding how changing initial conditions can help create different results. Through the task we could address properties of quadrilaterals, access many important vocabulary words, and lay the ground work for many more lessons and conversations.