DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION
Tasmanian Curriculum
 
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The learning sequence

The topic of the learning sequence was 'There's more than one way to skin a cat', which reflected aptly the understanding goal that: students will understand that there is an extended repertoire of strategies that can be used when posing and answering mathematical questions.

The student-friendly version of the goal was framed as the following statements and questions:

  • I understand I can ask and answer problems in a number of different ways.
    How many different ways can I ask and answer questions?
  • I understand I need to check that my answer is reasonable.
    How will I know if my answer is reasonable?
  • I understand that the range of strategies that different people use to solve problems is valid.
    How will I know if other people’s strategies are valid?

Mathematical challenges for the students

A challenge for one group was to build a straw tower. Students were given a handout to help them to focus on the activity. The culminating performances of groups were presented to others and a visit to the beach to take part in further activities together was held to celebrate the collaborative work that the students had done.

Sample challenge for one group

Sample performance

A celebration of learning

A celebration of learning
Sample performance of understanding from another group Students enjoying collaborative activities on the beach

Celebration day

To celebrate the cooperative links that had been forged between staff and between the students through this collaborative trial project, a celebration day with students working together in small groups was held. The three teachers and two Teacher Assistants ran the day with students participating in self-chosen groups of 3-4 students.

Students enjoyed the following challenges:

  • An Indonesian scavenger hunt
    Students had a checklist of items written in Indonesian and with their groups and the assistance of an Indonesian dictionary aimed to collect the identified items.
  • A marble challenge
    Using sand and any materials found on the beach students had to create a track that would allow a marble to roll unassisted for 30 seconds.
  • Creative challenge
    Students used only items found on the beach to construct a piece of art, sand sculpture

It was a fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed by all students and staff. It was a chance for the students to bring the expertise gained from the learning experiences over previous weeks to a different group and to a different situation. Students adapted to the tasks and tackled them with a great sense of confidence, with well developed cooperative group skills and with very little adult assistance required.

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