Resources & Ordering
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Resources Index
Order Form (PDF)
Ordering Information
- Order using your official purchase order or our Order Form. We do need a purchase order number.
- Please contact us at any time to discuss options for your school.
- We offer extensive professional development to support the introduction or refreshing of any of our resources.
Orders from Outside Australia
- All prices are in Australian Dollars.
- Price outside Australia is the Australian price plus freight where it applies.
- You are invited to contact us for a quote.
- This Currency Converter is a guide to current exchange rates.
- Orders must be prepaid.
- Credit Card payment is preferred.
- 2% surcharge on credit transactions.
- We accept Visa and Mastercard.
- PayPal is an option.
- Details are supplied with the invoice.
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Task boxes at Moonee Ponds West. Read more about this school here.
Contact
Doug. Williams:
More details in Contacts.
In Sweden discuss Mattegömmor with Per Berggren:
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Tasks & Maths With Attitude |
Poly Plug |
Other Resources |
- eTasks
Start your own Task Library.
241 hands-on problem solving task cards as PDF published for the exclusive use of your school. Print and add your own equipment. A complete package delivered by email and download.
- MWA eManuals
Integrate the use of eTasks and Maths300 using eManuals for Years 3-10. Manuals provide 25 weeks of learning to work like a mathematician for each of year level. Published for the exclusive use of your school and delivered by email as PDF.
- Storing Tasks
Bags or boxes or ... consider alternatives.
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- Poly Plug
Incredibly useful, motivating, classroom friendly resource for primary and secondary
- Working Mathematically with Infants
60 weeks of planned number work across Years K-2 built around using Poly Plug & calculators
- Menu Maths
Café Conundrum presents 4 menus of investigations built around using Poly Plug
- Picture Puzzles
36 investigation slide shows built around one screen two learners concrete materials and a challenge. 11 Picture Puzzles use Poly Plug
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We also recommend:
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Tasks & Maths With Attitude
eTasks
A library of eTasks invites students to choose their own mathematical adventure, just like a library of books invites students to choose their own reading adventure. Creating eTasks will make hands-on problem solving a central theme of both your professional development and your students' learning.
- We provide all the files you need electronically (hence eTasks) as A4 PDFs - 241 task cards, playing boards, cut-out masters, Recording Sheets, eTask Maker Manual, Teachers' Handbook, professional development leadership notes and slides.
- You provide the equipment to turn each task card into a hands-on investigation for a pair of students.
- Equipment for most of the tasks can be found in any reasonably stocked maths department.
Work together to make a starter set of tasks. eTasks are for a pair of students. You only need 10 to make a starter set for a work station, or 20 to work with a whole class, or 100 to provide for a whole school.
- Involve parents and interested students in the process.
- Learn about, share, discuss and imagine as you construct each task.
- Plan the use of the tasks as a team - build units of work using Maths With Attitude or other models on site.
- Extend the units of work with Picture Puzzles, Menu Maths, Maths300.
- Trial, review, revise, repeat.
Prices & Ordering
- eTask Package ... includes everything above ... $275
- Price includes GST. There is no delivery charge on this item.
- We publish eTasks for exclusive use by your school (or yourself) and deliver the package to you by email and download.
- Multi-campus schools need one package per campus.
- Orders from individual teachers are welcome if tasks are to be used in your own classroom(s).
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
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I already had materials so I got a sample set of 25 printed for my workshops. They were printed to instruction by the local printer - some greyscale on a range of coloured card, some colour on white card - laminated and had the corners curved for safety. All 25 for just $68. If I had bought the same 25 when they used to be available ready-made they would have cost me over $300 plus freight.
Doug. Williams
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Additional Information
Maths With Attitude eManuals
Sixteen eManuals in all. Four at each of Years 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 which are organised into curriculum strands:
- Chance & Measurement
- Number & Computation
- Pattern & Algebra
- Space & Logic
Each manual is constructed around a week by week planner for integrating tasks and investigations. Investing in four kits at each level provides 25 weeks of core curriculum with the single objective of all students learning to work like a mathematician in best practice classrooms.
Prepare your students for Maths With Attitude from the day they enter school with Working Mathematically with Infants, designed for Years K - 2.
Prices & Ordering
- MWA eManuals ...$22 each
- Maths300 membership is assumed, but is not necessary for purchase.
- Price include GST. There is no delivery charge on this item.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
- We publish MWA eManuals for exclusive use by your school (or yourself) and deliver the package to you by email and download.
- You use them from your server and/or print them for staff.
Additional Information
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4 strands at each of 4 levels = 16 units
Each unit is built around 20 hands-on tasks.
Each unit also includes a set of whole class investigations.
All class investigations are also included in Maths300.
Units are designed to integrate Tasks and Maths300.
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Poly Plug
Poly Plug
Poly Plug is two 5x5 grids of foam plugs, one of which is red, and one of which is twice as thick but yellow on one side and blue on the other. It is an extremely flexible learning aid because it is both unstructured when the plugs are removed and used as counters, and structured when held in arrangements defined by the grid ... or parts of it ... or multiples of it.
The material is 'classroom savvy' in that:
- it is colourful and tactile
- it has a loss-proof pack up system built in ... no gaps so all plugs must be there
- it is silent
- it cannot be used to hurt
- it is almost indestructible
- it comes in a sturdy press-seal bag for storage
Prices & Ordering
- Poly Plug 1 - 24 sets ...$13.50 each
- Poly Plug 25 - 99 sets ...$12.25 each
- Poly Plug 100+ sets ...$11 each (also price to Calculating Changes members)
- Poly Plug Game Pack Resource Book ...$22
- Calculating Changes Membership ...$330 (once only, no annual subscription)
- Prices include GST. Delivery charges apply.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
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Poly Plug Reviewed
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Additional Information
- Poly Plug is the preferred material for Calculating Changes.
- Poly Plug is essential for Working Mathematically with Infants (see below).
- Poly Plug is essential for Menu Maths (see below).
- Poly Plug can be used to explore the whole class investigation life of many tasks.
- Poly Plug has many other uses such as exploring the array model of multiplication, concepts of fractions and ratio, creating equations and illustrating the difference between two squares.
- Poly Plug Game Pack is a reproducible resource book of 16 strategy games in four families.
- Our Poly Plug page leads to scores of activities and more detail.
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Working Mathematically with Infants
This kit brings together the work of Calculating Changes, Mathematics Task Centre and Maths300 to enhance young children's number sense (Years K - 2, ie: 5 - 7 year olds) beyond what is normally expected for the age.
Working Mathematically with Infants is only available to Calculating Changes members and contains:
- 25 Poly Plug
- Manual with scope and sequence planners and 48 additional whole class investigations
At each year level the planners offer 10 weeks per semester of week by week, lesson by lesson sequenced activity. That's 60 weeks over three years designed to enhance number sense, number concepts and number skills - all important for a mathematician - to prepare students for involvement with Maths With Attitude from Year 3 onwards.
Threaded activities in the program have been developed and trialled over fifteen years by teachers in the Calculating Changes network. Whole class investigations have been adapted from Maths Tasks and Maths300 lessons. It is not necessary to have the tasks used, nor it is necessary to be a Maths300 member to make excellent use of this kit. However, if you do have access to these extras, your curriculum can only be richer.
Professional development is available to support the introduction of this kit.
Prices & Ordering
- Working Mathematically with Infants Kit ...$330
- Calculating Changes Membership ...$330 (once only, no annual subscription)
- Additional Poly Plug ...$11 each
- Additional manuals ...$27.50 each
- Prices include GST. Delivery charges apply.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
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Additional Information
- Current Calculating Changes members with Poly Plug need only order manual(s).
- Visit Calculating Changes to find sample activities, PD programs and more.
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Menu Maths
Welcome to Café Conundrum where our menus offer a choice from the best mathematical investigations we can find.
Menu Maths is about choice.
- Teachers choose which menu to use.
- Learners choose which item to savour from Today's Specials.
Why? To enrich mathematics learning and teaching, encourage greater student participation and support the curriculum culture of learning to work like a mathematician.
- Print your own menus in colour (or B & W).
- Menus in 4 content strands:
Pattern & Algebra, Space & Logic, Chance & Data, Number
- At least five investigations on every menu.
- Additional 'placemats' included when necessary as playing boards.
- Designed to be used with Poly Plug (see prices above).
- PDF published exclusively for your school or yourself.
- One file - print as often as you want.
- Delivered by email - no delivery charge, just print and play.
- Menus suit a range of ages and abilities.
- Web-based teachers' notes.
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Prices & Ordering
- Menu Maths @ Café Conundrum ... 1 PDF file for you to print as often as you want ... $22 each (and you only need 1).
- Price includes GST. Delivered to your chosen email address - zero delivery charge.
- Poly Plug ... as above
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
Additional Information
- Our Menu Maths page has more detail, including Teachers' Notes.
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Picture Puzzles
One screen, two learners, concrete materials and a challenge.
One learner cannot have a mathematical conversation with a screen. Two learners can have a mathematical conversation about a screen. Picture Puzzles generate that conversation through supported achievable challenges that involve learners using their hands off the screen.
- All Picture Puzzles are PDF slide shows.
- Picture Puzzles open on all devices that support PDF.
- Picture Puzzles are organised into content-based menus.
- Purchase menu by menu or purchase an access code to all menus.
- Access code purchase is once only; no annual subscription.
- Download Picture Puzzles and make available to students through the school server.
- All Picture Puzzles require concrete materials listed in Teaching Notes.
- Concrete materials are either commonly available in schools or easily obtainable.
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Picture Puzzles can also be used to stimulate a whole class investigation which models how to work like a mathematician.
Prices & Ordering
- Purchase by Menu for $55 per menu. Currently 7 menus available.
- Purchase by Access Code to download all current and future puzzles.
- Access code is $165 ... Only $110 for Calculating Changes members.
- Prices include GST. Delivery by email only.
- Picture Puzzles licence is for one campus with no limit on staff access or student population.
- Individual teachers can purchase an access code, but may only use Picture Puzzles with students they directly teach.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
Additional Information
- Click the image to visit Picture Puzzles and learn more. Includes a Free Tour with four Picture Puzzles and Teaching Notes for all menus.
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Other Resources
Rotagrams
A Rotagram is a clear plastic circle set into a clear plastic square. The circle can rotate against the square. One arm of an angle is marked (and fixed) on the square. The other is marked on the circle and consequently rotates. There are no units marked so the focus is on the concept of an angle and the way it is measured, rather than on the skills related to using a protractor. It is a very useful device for comparing angles and developing a considerable amount of related mathematics usually included in official curricula.
Originally designed by Geoff Giles for DIME Projects, Scotland, they are now manufactured in Australia. Some schools may also have the original A5 booklets Geoff designed to accompany Rotagrams and will now be able to use those again.
If you do not have these booklets they are freely distributed below.
- Rotagrams are critical for building a whole class investigation around Task 214, Angle Estimation, and are also suggested in Maths300 Lesson 133, Angle Estimation, which grows from the task.
Prices & Ordering
- Rotagram ...$36 per pack of 20
- Prices include GST. Delivery charges apply.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
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Additional Information
- Geoff Giles DIME Workcard Booklets and Worksheets
Mathematics Centre has been given permission to reproduce and freely distribute these historic resources to help students use Rotagrams to develop a fuller, richer understanding of angles, their relationships and their applications. Originally published in 1979 and used in schools into the nineties, there is nothing else similar in this content area. Mathematics Centre is honoured to make the work of our late colleague Geoff Giles available to new generations of students in this way.
- Each file is a PDF.
- Booklets are designed to be printed monochrome, back to back on A4, folded to A5 size and stapled. Choose the 'Flip on short edge' option (or similar) in your printer dialogue box. This process produces 16 page booklets using only 4 sheets of A4 paper. Many photocopiers will automatically do this whole process from the electronic file.
- Supporting worksheets are designed to be printed monochrome, back to back on A4, using only one additional sheet of paper for each booklet. Choose the 'Flip on long edge' option (or similar) in your printer dialogue box.
Each of the three sets is a self-directed unit of work which can be used by individuals, small groups or the whole class. Each unit includes two levels of self-assessment. Teachers might introduce such units with a whole class investigation based around Angle Estimation or other practical, outside experiences. However once a unit is in operation the teacher's role is more like that of a tutor. Units can be used at different times in the same school year or at different year levels depending on systemic curriculum requirements.
- Heather Scott, UK, is developing a 16 page book of Investigation Guides for Rotagrams. The photo shows her current samples. Contact Heather. for more information.
- Rotagrams are also useful in your school art department for assisting perspective drawing. See November 2013 News. This information is also included in the cameo for Task 214, Angle Estimation, linked above.
- Rotagrams were recommended in the Victorian Mathematics Developmental Curriculum P-10 (now superseded) under item Angles: 3.25 - Space. If you have this document archived, see Activity 1, No. 5 under Teaching Strategies.
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Maths300 ETuTE
- Are you a new member of Maths300 wondering where to start?
- Are you a longer term member but feel you are not getting best value from the scores of lessons available?
- Would you like to maintain a focus on teaching and learning in your faculty/level meetings to balance administrative demands?
Maths300 ETuTE can help with all these issues.
Written in a diary style with one stimulus question per page this 'sound bite' format suits the time pressures of modern teaching.
- Stay in touch with your teaching craft as you explore Maths300 a little at a time.
- Be inspired to trial a lesson you hadn't thought of using before.
- Be encouraged to integrate lessons and tasks into your curriculum in a way that focuses on learning to work like a mathematician.
Based entirely on the well received electronic ETuTEs distributed to members between 2004 and 2009, and suitable for all school years K - 12, the 49 stimulus questions and companion text have been refreshed and organised so that you can:
- Flick the pages and randomly find questions that interest you. Then trial what is suggested and return to faculty meetings to compare experiences.
- Start at the first ETuTE and follow in sequence on a regular basis, trialling what is suggested before beginning the next ETuTE. With this approach, you will have material for at least five years of faculty meetings.
- Use the Year Level Finder to select those tutorials relevant to your current teaching load. Then either select at random or follow in sequence.
- Use the Content Finder to select content relevant to your current syllabus demand, trial what you find and evaluate it against the approach 'we would have normally used'.
Maths300 ETuTE is a framework for in-house professional development based around Maths300.
Prices & Ordering
- Maths300 ETuTE ...$22
- Prices include GST. Delivery charges apply.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
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Additional Information
- Wire bound. Limited reproduction rights included.
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Professor Morris Puzzles
50 Puzzles presented as both Slides and Posters plus Booklet.
The booklet Introducing Professor Morris includes:
- Background
- Lesson plan for a Poster Problem Clinic
- Answers
- Start talking questions to encourage digging deeper
- Links to the eTask collection
Puzzles are presented by Professor Morris, a unique CARtoon character, and all text is in rhyme. This is consistent with Gardner's Multiple Intelligences research. The rhyme and rhythm of the text appeals to musical intelligence, the drawings to visual intelligence and emphasis on discussion and sharing encourages language-based and interpersonal learners.
- Suitable for Years 2 to 8
- Digitally delivered by download
- Published for the exclusive use of the purchaser
Prices & Ordering
- Professor Morris Puzzles ...$22 for Slides, Posters & Booklet
- Prices include GST. Delivery charges apply.
- Order with either your school purchase order or our Order Form.
Additional Information
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Also Recommended
Sphinx Shapes
Sphinx, Task 166, is a wonderful example of the principles underpinning a good task and what it means to work like a mathematician in happy, healthy, cheerful, productive, inspiring classrooms. It is also the source of the story behind the Task Centre logo:
a story which has particular relevance to Aboriginal students.
To get the most from this task teachers need multiple copies of the Sphinx shape. Teachers can design, print and laminate their own (the shape is made from 6 equilateral triangles) or can perhaps organise for the students to make the school set in conjunction with the Design & Technology teacher.
However, the easier alternative is to purchase these sturdy, colourful, Australian made plastic Sphinx shapes.
Prices & Ordering
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Additional Information
- Explore our Sphinx Album to discover a world of mathematics for primary and secondary classrooms that develops from this one shape. There are many examples from classrooms around the world.
- Sphinx is also the basis of Maths300 Lesson 25, Sphinx and Maths300 Lesson 99, What's It Worth?.
- Sphinx shapes are required for two Picture Puzzles in the Shape & Measurement A menu.
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Wooden Cubes & Rods
Wooden cubes in various colours are used in many tasks. In Australia, Kembo Cuisenaire produce beautifully crafted 2cm cubes in natural wood and 6 other colours (green, blue, orange, yellow, red, black) using safe dyes. They also produce wooden Cuisenaire Rods used in:
and in particular lengths in several other tasks. Multibase Arithmetic Blocks (MAB) in various sizes (used in Task 160, Painted Cubes) can also be obtained from Kembo.
Prices & Ordering
- Wooden cubes can also be easily glued together to make Tricubes.
- View the quality of the materials at the Kembo Cuisenaire site. Search 'cubes' on the home page to see the choices.
- There is a shopping cart system on site, or you can discuss what you need with Astley Packer before ordering.
- Email: astley@kembo.com.au
Phone: 02 9979 5262
Additional Information
- Wooden cubes and Cuisenaire Rods are also used in some Picture Puzzles.
See the Equipment List for this resource.
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3d Geoshapes & Mini Geofix
3d Geoshapes, are click together plastic pieces in a range of shapes. Mini Geofix are a smaller version of the same concept. The joining sides make a hinge which allows folding into three dimensions. Although the plastic they are made from is thin, it is incredibly strong. These Australian made shapes are frames, not solid surfaces, so construction of 3D objects is easier because fingers can get in, out, around and through. This material opens up a world of hands-on exploration K - 12 and is particularly useful in the task centre context.
The shapes resource several of our tasks, such as Cube Nets, Tetrahedron Nets, Fold Up Houses and Pointy Fences. To activate the whole class investigation life of these tasks you will need a class set of the materials.
For example, as a whole class investigation, Cube Nets, Task 31 (Maths300 Lesson 116) is an excellent way to illustrate what it means to work like a mathematician. In addition the lesson offers several learning features which encourage us to reflect on better choices for teaching and learning. Teachers wishing to convert this task to a whole class investigation would need four packs of squares.
Geoshapes and/or Mini Geofix squares and triangles are required for three Picture Puzzles in the Pattern & Algebra A menu and are useful for several puzzles in other menus.
Prices & Ordering
- Search Geoshapes or Mini Geofix on the web to find suppliers.
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Matt's mini-Whiteboard
These have been a hit with several classes in the Red Centre.
What is also generating interest are the mini-Whiteboards I tote around with me. Using whiteboard markers kids record their data, then walk up to a whiteboard to contribute to the 'community data'. I was stunned with the reaction of the teachers. This stuff is on 6mm plywood, rather than the 20mm plywood A3-size whiteboards in some schools (...which could be classified as a weapon!).
I used them with Sultanas in Fruit Cake - a variation on the Maths300 Chocolate Chip Cookies lesson. Bringing the mini-Whiteboards out to the front was a convenient way of 'collecting the community data' as a precursor to jumping into a stem & leaf plot. Not an essential process, but nice.
Price
The following prices are a guide.
Latest prices will be found at the link below.
- Post card size: $0.66 (unsanded edges) or $0.99 (sanded edges) each plus freight
- A4 size: $2.20 (unsanded edges) or $2.75 (sanded edges) each plus freight
- Other sizes available
- You supply the whiteboard markers.
- Contact Matt Skoss, Possum Educational Resources: matt.skoss@gmail.com
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Contact
Matt Skoss
Possum Educational Services
31 Battarbee St.
Alice Springs NT 0870
Australia
Phone: 0418 624 631
Email: matt.skoss@gmail.com
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Make Your Own Maths Mat
Physical involvement (kinaesthetic learning) is a key component in playing out the whole class investigation life of many tasks. One of the aids that can be used to challenge students in this way is a large plastic mat with cells big enough for a student to sit inside. There are many learning opportunities that develop when you have one of these mats. The articles below show some of the things you can do with a mat (or painted grid in the school yard) and give the dimensions for a grid made from shade cloth or other 'indestructible' plastic. In some schools parent groups have made the school mat in advance of a PD session for staff about using it.
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...And More
Trisquares
Trisquares are used in Tasks 237, Trisquares, and 238, Growing Trisquares. Based around a unit square rather than a unit triangle, these shapes have the same property as Sphinx, so anything you can do with Sphinx you can do with Trisquares, but the pictures that result certainly don't look the same.
Trisquares offer many applications across primary and secondary school including:
- Shape discrimination & other spatial experiences
- Perimeter & area
- Problem solving
- Square numbers
- Pattern & algebra
- Graphing
They are also required for two Picture Puzzles in the Shape & Measurement A menu.
Teachers and children can make their own from thin card or, with the help of the craft department or the local Mens' Shed, from wood.
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Tricubes
Tricubes are used in Tasks 69, Tricubes, 77, Tricube Constructions A, 90, Tricube Constructions B, 193, Surface Area with Tricubes and 234, Growing Tricubes. They are also used in Maths300 lesson 165, Surface Area with Tricubes.
Based around a unit cube rather than a unit square or triangle, these shapes have the same property as Sphinx, so anything you can do with Sphinx you can do with Tricubes in both two and three dimensions.
Tricubes offer many applications across primary and secondary school including:
- 3D constructions & spatial perception
- Tessellations
- Base area (foot print)
- Surface area
- Volume
- Pattern & algebra
- Linear, quadratic and cubic graphs
They are also required for two Picture Puzzles in the Shape & Space A menu.
Teachers can make their own from wood with the help of the craft department or the local Mens' Shed. They can also be made from the 2cm wooden cubes available from Kembo-Cuisenaire. We know of one school where the children made the school's set of wooden Tricubes in craft classes.
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Pentagon Triangles
Task 81, Pentagon Triangles, involves a multitude of work in space, measurement and number patterns which has become the basis of Maths300 Lesson 134.
Plastazote Pentagon Triangles as shown are no longer available. However, teachers or students could make cardboard Pentagon Triangles by cutting a regular pentagon into isosceles triangles along its diagonals as in the photo. Or you could employ the assistance of the craft department or the local Mens' Shed.
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Storing Tasks
Tasks packed in press-seal bags are very effective if you are intending to move tasks around the school. However, some schools use their tasks in a particular room called a Task Centre and consequently store tasks in plastic cake-storer type boxes such as those shown here, or in the Organisation Album and other aspects of the Photographs page.
Moonee Ponds West Primary School has combined both boxed storage and transportability by storing the plastic boxes beside a through way to many classrooms.
Mathematics Centre does not supply plastic boxes, or other storage systems, but does provide the following information:
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Boxes
Plastics & Storage Warehouse tell us that it is no longer possible to obtain the traditional boxes shown in some photos on site. However, they can provide one that works well and are experienced at supplying throughout Australia. Wayne is very easy to deal with.
Plastics & Storage Warehouse
Contact: Wayne Bartlett
Tel: 03 9334 2392
Fax: 03 9330 4337
Email: wayne@vegas.com.au
Price: Please check with Wayne.
In the USA schools have had success with similar boxes through the Rubber Maid web site.
It may also be possible to find appropriate boxes at the local discount shop. eTask cards and almost all ancillary printing is A4 size, 21cm x 29.7cm. Laminate adds about 1cm to each dimension.Three tasks use A3 boards.
- Press-Seal Bags
Press-seal bags can be hung from racks using 2-clip trouser hangers available from department stores.
- Raeco Hangbags
Raeco Hangbags clip at the top but don't completely seal. Add the large, crisp, clear labels Sue prepared for Southern Cross Primary School, Canberra, and its all 'ready to roll'. If you are interested in the 'Raeco solution' ask your Librarian, or check the Raeco web site.
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