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
Strand and focus	Number, Measurement, Build understanding, Apply understanding, Geometry
Topics	Fractions, Shapes and objects, Area, volume and surface area
AC: Mathematics content descriptions	ACMMG087 Compare the areas of regular and irregular shapes by informal means ACMMG088 Compare and describe two dimensional shapes that result from combining and splitting common shapes, with and without the use of digital technologies ACMNA077 Investigate equivalent fractions used in contexts ACMMG091 Create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes with and without digital technologies
National numeracy learning progression	Interpreting fractions - InF4, InF5 Understanding units of measurement - UuM6, UuM7 Understanding geometric properties - UGP4
Copyright details
Organisation	reSolve Maths by Inquiry
Copyright	© Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment 2021. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.