beachball sequences
This is a reflection on a sequences lesson for students working at levels 4 to 6. The aim of the lesson was for students to actively explore arithmetic sequences.
On the right is a video that shows year 7 students trying the activities. As you can see from the video, students were numbered 1-28 in a circle and threw a ball round according to different common differences and starting points. This was inspired by the task 'Being a number' from the ATM publication Big Ideas by Chris Martin. |
|
Following this activity, we progressed from modelling sequences with people, to drawing them on circles (see slideshow of examples by level 4 and 5 students below). From describing sequences as 'one less than the 5 times table', we finally progressed onto the level 6 objective of finding the nth term for a sequence.
This is the most successful way I have taught this topic; the students (mainly level 4 and 5) clearly understood the significance of the starting number and common difference and could easily give the nth term of the sequences within 2 lessons - a level 6 topic! And they asked to do it again next lesson!
Next lesson with my year 7 students we looked at patterns in n-dot circles - see below. There are printable ones here. We briefly explored why some of them are star shaped and others aren't. I might extend this by exploring Schlafli symbols.
Next lesson with my year 7 students we looked at patterns in n-dot circles - see below. There are printable ones here. We briefly explored why some of them are star shaped and others aren't. I might extend this by exploring Schlafli symbols.