Photograph of a skylight with triangular divisions.Investigations

Materials:

Paper, pencil, (ruler, scissors, crayons or pencil crayons if you are making paper sticks) or you can use the virtual versions found here.

How many triangles can you make using “sticks” that are 3cm, 4cm and 5cm long?

You can make “paper sticks” or use these virtual sticks to build the triangles.
A triangle can only have one stick per side.
A triangle can use more than one stick of the same length.
Keep track of the triangles you have made by recording the side lengths. (e.g., 3,3,3, 3,4,4 etc.)

Making Paper Sticks

You will need “paper sticks” that are 3cm, 4cm and 5cm long.
Each measurement should have its own colour (e.g., 3cm red, 4cm green, 5cm blue). You will need to make approximately 12 of each “stick”.
Your child could practise measurement skills by making their own sticks or you could cut templates out of paper or thin cardboard and have your child trace them on paper, colour them and cut them out.

(adapted from nrichmaths.org)