Please note: This site contains links to websites not controlled by the Australian Government or ESA. More information here.

reSolve: Authentic problems – expanded square

This sequence of four lessons explores concepts around informal area and symmetry. Students design an 'expanded square' where approximately half the area of the original square is flipped to the outside. The lessons provide opportunities for students to devise and use methods to informally measure area, record their mathematical thinking and justify their designs. Each lesson is outlined in detail including curriculum links, vocabulary, materials needed, sample answers, discussion points and student resources. This sequence is part of the reSolve: Mathematics by Inquiry special topic 'Authentic Problems'.

Additional details
Year level(s)	Year 4
Audience	Teacher
Purpose	Teaching resource
Format	Downloadable resources
Teaching strategies and pedagogical approaches	Mathematics investigation
Keywords	area, symmetry, equivalent fractions, maths investigations, irregular polygons
Curriculum alignment
Curriculum connections	Numeracy, Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
Strand and focus	Number, Measurement, Build understanding, Apply understanding, Space
Topics	Fractions, Shapes and objects, Area, volume and surface area
AC: Mathematics (V9.0) content descriptions	AC9M4M02 Recognise ways of measuring and approximating the perimeter and area of shapes and enclosed spaces, using appropriate formal and informal units AC9M4N03 Find equivalent representations of fractions using related denominators and make connections between fractions and decimal notation AC9M4SP03 Recognise line and rotational symmetry of shapes and create symmetrical patterns and pictures, using dynamic geometric software where appropriate
Numeracy progression	Understanding units of measurement (P6) Interpreting fractions (P5) Understanding geometric properties (P4)
Copyright details
Organisation	reSolve Maths by Inquiry
Copyright	© Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment 2021. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.