Mathematics

: String Thing

Approach: One to one
Resources: 3 lengths of string, (1 each of blue, red, yellow); envelope to hold string.
Questions / instructions: In this activity you will be cutting pieces of string into different lengths. Think about the best way of cutting each string so that there are even parts.
		% responses
		y4	y8
1. Cut the BLUE string into 4 equal parts.	4 pieces: within 1 cm within 3 cm	29 15	68 17
2. Cut the RED string into 3 equal parts.	3 pieces: within 1 cm within 3 cm	8 13	39 25
3. Cut the YELLOW string into 5 equal parts.	5 pieces: within 1 cm within 3 cm	3 10	13 31
If the student is having difficulty performing any of the items, ask if they would like to stop and go on to the next activity.
Commentary: The somewhat curly nature of the string made the task a little more challenging. Students coped reasonably well with the first task, which involved folding the string twice. The remaining two tasks required more sophisticated manoeuvers, and were handled less well.