:Packages
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus:     Describing 3D shapes
Resources: Toblerone box, raisin box, Rolo packet
544KB

Questions / instructions:

Put three boxes in front of student.
In this activity we will be talking about these three packages.

     
% responses
2005 ('01)
Y4
Y8
1. 
Pick up the Toblerone box and have a good look at it. Tell me all the different things you can about the shape of the box.
PROMPT:
Is there anything else you can tell me about the shape of the box?
Refers to triangles:
triangular prism
13 (17)
39 (38)
 
ends are triangles/3D triangle
18 (29)
18 (18)
mentions triangles
62 (52)
38 (40)
any other response (including prism)
7 (6)
6 (4)
sides are rectangles
12 (10)
9 (9)
long (relative to x-section)
29 (29)
33 (34)
ends are parallel
2 (0)
1 (1)
regular shape (equilateral triangles, rectangles same)
4 (2)
5 (5)
number of faces/sides = 5
6 (15)
20 (12)
number of edges = 9
3 (6)
10 (6)
number of corners = 6
9 (13)
13 (9)
2. Pick up the raisin box and have a good look at it. Tell me all the different things you can about the shape of the box.
PROMPT:
Is there anything else you can tell me about the shape of the box?
Refers to rectangles:
rectangular prism/cuboid
8 (10)
24 (18)
 
rectangle/oblong (3D sense)/ rectangular cube
17 (11)
35 (21)
all sides rectangles/oblongs
7 (4)
5 (4)
rectangles/oblongs mentioned
34 (43)
18 (40)
any other response (including prism)
33 (31)
18 (17)
opposite faces parallel (or equivalent)
3 (4)
8 (7)
number of faces/sides = 6
14 (22)
30 (23)
number of edges = 12
3 (4)
8 (7)
number of corners = 8
14 (19)
21 (14)
3.
Pick up the Rolo packet and have a good look at it. Tell me all the different things you can about the shape of the package.
PROMPT:
Is there anything else you can tell me about the shape of the package?
Refers to cylinder:
cylinder/circular prism
26 (34)
59 (56)
 
ends are circles/round (3D)
14 (15)
5 (10)
round, circular
50 (40)
30 (29)
any other response (including prism)
10 (10)
6 (5)
ends are parallel
2 (0)
2 (1)
long (relative to x-section)
18 (17)
17 (20)
number of flat faces/sides = 2
12 (19)
21 (15)
other face is rectangle rolled out
1 (1)
2 (1)
number of edges (circular) = 2
5 (5)
8 (6)
number of corners = 0
14 (19)
17 (12)
 
Total score: 17–27
1 (1)
4 (1)
14–16
3 (3)
7 (4)
11–13
5 (8)
16 (16)
8–10
15 (21)
29 (29)
5–7
32 (34)
30 (32)
2–4
41 (31)
13 (17)
0–1
3 (2)
1 (1)

Commentary:
This task involved the use of geometry terminology and the ability to describe shapes. Students in year 8 were much more likely to use precise terminology but many students at both year levels did not do so. There was little change between 2001 and 2005.

 
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