Box Hunt

Years 3 - 8

Summary

Box Hunt has developed from the extensions of Number Shapes which is in our Free Tour section. The challenge is to share each number in a sequence between a given number of positions around a shape. The problem involves division (on the calculator is fine) and leads to patterns involving decimals which have to be explained. Suitable for threading.

Materials

Procedure

The activity can be introduced by sketching something equivalent to the Sample Investigation Sheets on the whiteboard and working the investigation through as a class. Let the students suggest the starting number and take turns to predict the corner numbers.

It then becomes a personal or pair investigation supported by a calculator. The objective is for children to discover and investigate decimals by following a pattern, similar to the way they investigate numbers in Predict A Count.

The process is guess, record, check. The teacher's role is to ask questions such as:

 

Content

  • decimal representation of a fraction
  • division
  • estimating number
  • mathematical conversation
  • operations - whole number
  • pattern generalisation
  • pattern interpretation
  • pattern recognition
  • recording - written

You worked out those corner numbers by dividing by four. Can you use the calculator another way to convince me they are correct?
Is there a different way you could convince me they are correct?
Each time the activity is used the challenge is fresh but the context is familiar, so Box Hunt can be used as a threaded activity, ie: used for a few minutes a day for a couple of days per week over several weeks.

Once students perceive the 'what ifs' in the activity by using the Sample Investigation Sheets, ie:

  • What if I change the starting number?
  • What if I change the shape of the box to get more corners?
  • What if I don't use the box at all, but just explore division patterns?
there is no need to use printed material any more. Instead, students can quickly sketch their own boxes on scrap paper and simply enter a dated record of their investigation for the day in their journal.

Extensions

Alicia Ernst, St. Bede's Primary School, Braidwood thought of varying this activity by using the larger equilateral triangle shape below. That led to other larger shapes, as shown, as the extra Investigation Guides (PDF files), each of which challenges the child to complete the shape then turn it into a puzzle for someone else. Be aware that these puzzles could easily lead to needing negative numbers. But that doesn't seem to be a problem. Long ago one teacher reported that they didn't phase her Year 1 children, who simply referred to them as 'underground numbers'. That response has been confirmed by several teachers since.
                               

Box Hunt 4                                                              Box Hunt 5                                                              Box Hunt 6


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