Multiple Solutions

Recently I came across a type of review activity you can use in middle and high school.  It came from Anthony Purcell or (@MrP_tchr) that included many different answers and open-ended questions.  Students often seem more intrinsically motivated to complete open-ended problems, because it is relevant in and outside of the classroom.

The math activity was designed for upper elementary level that offers multiple solutions.  The concepts covered in this project include a great amount of number sense concepts: factors, multiples, square numbers, even, odd, prime, composite, and triangular numbers. This assignment covers many concepts and a teacher could informally assess students in the classroom as they facilitate the learning process.


At the high school level have the students remember what the concepts are and have them try to figure out the pattern the blocks should go in.  Students cut out and glue the project together.  If you have a math journal have them journal about their math problem solving experience.  


The link to the page is here: Math Activity

A link to a possible extension activity: http://nrich.maths.org/5448/note

Here is an image of a possible solution and the link to the page it came from: http://educationalaspirations.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/958/

Other solutions can be found here: http://nrich.maths.org/5448/solution