Symmetry

We are learning about symmetry this week.

If you want to try some activities at home, why not look at the alphabet and work out which letters have lines of symmetry. Are there more upper case or lower case letters? Why not fold a piece of paper, cut a shape then open it out. It will have one line of symmetry. If you fold it mroe than once it will have more lines of symmetry. Try and colour it so it remains symmetrical. Can you find things in nature that are symmetrical? Butterflies are, can you think of any others? If you have a drawing program on your computer try and make a symmetrical picture.

Go to this website to make a symmetrical picture online http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/symmetry/symm.htm

This website lets you design a snowflake http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/symmetry/snow.htm

This game will test how much you know about symmetry http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/maths/activities/year3/symmetry/shape_game.asp

This site allows you to make fabulous repeating patterns http://www.scienceu.com/geometry/handson/kali/

Eric Joyner's Robot Art

As part of our robot topic this term we are looking at the work of Eric Joyner.



Visit: http://www.ericjoyner.com/ and click on 'Tin Robots' to see more examples of his work.

Mental addition

This week we are practising adding and subtracting mentally. There are several strategies that can be used.

Adding a one-digit number to a two-digit number:

Method 1. Counting on. Eg. 23 + 4 = ? Count up 4 from 23, say 24, 25, 26, 27 (don't say starting number as nothing has yet been added!)

Method 2. Adding on. Eg. 23 + 4 = ? Knowing that 3 + 4 = 7 therefore 23 + 4 = 27

Method 3. Adding on when answer goes beyond next 10. Eg. 23 + 8 = ? Add on 7 to make it up to 30 then add on 1 to make 31


Adding a two-digit number to a two-digit number:

Method 1. Adding 10s then 1s. Eg. 23 + 25 = ? First add 10s, 20 + 20 = 40, then add 1s, 3 + 5 = 8, then add together, 40 + 8 = 48

Method 2. Adding on 10s then 1s. Eg. 25 + 17 = ? Add 10 onto 25 = 35, then add on 7 using methed 3 from above.


This website lets you practise adding two-digit numbers (select level 3):
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=digitmenu


Practise adding one-digit and two-digit numbers at this website (select adding and medium level):
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/mayan-math/index.html

Tarsia homework

Here is some extra information to help with the Tarsia homework, as many people were a bit confused!

Tarsia is a computer program that enables puzzles to be created and printed. I have created several of these puzzles using the program. The children have enjoyed playing these in class. Each triangular puzzle consists of 16 smaller triangles that are put together to make a larger triangle. The edges of the triangles have either questions or answers. The correct pairs are put together to make the large triangle and complete the puzzle.

Here is an example of a nearly completed Tarsia:

For homework the children have been asked to come up with their own pairs to put on a Tarsia. We have been learning about place value and splitting up numbers. The easiest way to partition (split) a 3-digit number is into hundreds, tens and ones. Eg. 234 is 200 + 30 + 4. However it can also be partitioned in different ways, eg. 234 is 200 + 15 + 19 or 150 + 80 + 4 etc. They need to create 18 pairs for a Tarsia puzzle and can use 2-digit, 3-digit or 4-digit numbers.

Here is an example of the homework sheet:

It is very important to make sure that each number is different or the puzzle is very difficult to solve!

If you would like to download the free Tarsia software so you can make your own puzzles, visit http://www.mmlsoft.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=15&Itemid=58

This software allows you to create a variety of different puzzles, dominoes and loop cards.

Robots

This term our topic is Robots. We are looking forward to finding out all about them as well as learning about electricity, magnets and springs and making our own moving robot.

Here is a photo of me meeting a robot!

Rainforests

The class enjoyed learning about rainforests last term and creating artwork related to this topic. Here are some examples of their oil pastel artwork of rainforest trees and animals: