Marvelous Maths!

What great team work and problem solving skills were evident in the hall over the last few days as the Year Three team did a Cantamaths style challenge.
Perhaps you could create some new questions for next time.

Tessellation Time

Tessellations are fun and a little bit addictive! There are lots of websites that have printable tessellation templates (try saying that fast 10 times!).

Sing the Shape Song

You could possibly even create your own name the shape song. I always like this song that was on Sesame Street a while back.

Shapes and What Makes Them

Today we looked at different four sided shapes. We noticed what was the same about them and what was different. The length of the sides made a difference to the shape and so did the size of the angles.

Can you work out a pattern for how to work out how many lines of symmetry a shape will have?
Our next activity was to colour some 3D shape nets. These are 2D patterns that we'll cut out and glue together so they make 3D shapes.

The tetrahedron is my favourite. Although I like a cone with a sphere of hokey pokey in it don't you?

Symmetry

Today we learned about symmetry. We talked about horizontal and vertical lines of symmetry. Remember:  horizontal is like the horizon - it goes across.

You might be able to find some things at your home that are symmetrical. Nature is full of symmetry, take a look at these images.

You had fun creating symmetrical patterns with a partner too.

Creating Symmetrical Living Art Installations on PhotoPeach

Geometry

Today you worked in groups to sort shapes into groups. First you sorted them into two groups, then into three. Finally you created a picture with the shapes.

That should read Five Sided - not shaded!

A Watery Challenge

How can you make a lump of plasticine float, and even hold up some other objects? That was the challenge!

Blaze and Theo were the most successful, their craft managed to hold 34 counters!

More Measurement Matters

We measured many objects in our classroom using little sticks. We found out that you have to:

• start measuring at the edge of the object, not just at any old place
• measure straight across the object not crookedly
• have the same length stick as another group if you want to check your answer with theirs
• have a special way of measuring things so that everyone gets the same answer - next we used rulers!

Tell your family who was right - if anyone was!

Measurement Matters

Today we began our maths measurement learning. Gabe asked the great question,
"What does measurement mean?" See if you can answer that without using the word measure or measuring!
We decided that it is gathering information about something. How are you getting on discovering where, what and how measurement happens at your house?
I think I'll head home and have a look at my place too!

The Doubles

Have you learned the doubles off by heart? It is so handy to know these basic facts. I found a video we made in 2012 when the then Room 17 went to Room 9 to help them learn the doubles song. I can recognise some of this year's year three children in the group. I have posted it to the Room 17 Maths page.

Buzz Bar Fever

Lucy was the first person to win a Buzz Bar in 2014. Buzz Bar is a great game to play with your family. It's fun and you don't need any equipment to play it.
It goes like this:

• You count forwards (or backwards) in ones.
• When you come to a number you use when counting in fives, ie 5, 10, 15, 20 etc you say BUZZ instead of the number.
• When you come to a  number that you use when counting in tens ie 10, 20, 30 etc you say BAR. As you are already saying BUZZ for the 10, 20 and 30 it becomes BUZZ BAR.

Graphing Different Information

Creating Graphs in Groups

Maths on the Move

Surveying Our Buddies.

We used tally marks to record people's choices.

You could create another survey to do with our class or your brother or sister's class. You could do this in your home learning book.

Graphing Information

This graph shows which houses the Room 17 children are in. This made us wonder what the other Year classes graphs would look like. We did a simple survey and got some information. A graph SHOWS us that information quickly and easily.

What do these graphs make you wonder?