This is another place where rich math tasks and low threshold high ceiling activities give all students the opportunity to shine and explore. This activity could be extended and built upon for gifted students. The activity below could be extended using drawings, manipulatives or equations depending on what works best for the student. The activity I have chosen is one that would challenge and engage a very gifted student in my grade 4 classroom. The Squares Upon Squares activity has several possible approaches that I have tried however there could be any number of possible paths to a solution. When doing this with the whole class I might ask my students to create their own pattern in a similar style to the one below.
Squares Upon Squares
https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/squares-upon-squares/
\ (Parker & Mathematics Education Collaborative, n.d.)
Part one
- Display the image above for students and give each student or group a copy of the image
- Have students write down any observations they have about the pattern
- Share observations with groups
Part two
- Ask students to extend the pattern for the next 3-6 cases
- Have students come up with the numerical pattern rule for the pattern.
- Perfect squares ( 4,9,16)
- +5,+7, +9, +11, +13
- Geometric sequence
Part three
- Have students share their ideas for extending the pattern
- Encourage all students to share and explain
- *The ideas above are the two ideas I came up with there could be many more solutions*
Bibliography
Parker, R., & Mathematics Education Collaborative. (n.d.). Squares Upon Squares. Retrieved from YouCubed: https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/squares-upon-squares/
