Counting Shapes

 Counting various shapes helps students differentiate and look laterally.  Often they quickly count the obvious and say"I have finished!" without really delving into the not so obvious.

I often wonder if this is because we have tended to focus on answers (and usually "correct ones") rather than have the students explain how they reached their answers.  This sharing/justification does not always have to be with the Teacher but could be with a partner or within a group.  Often sharing will elp the student "self correct" whereas focusing on answers will give them a high or a low.

 

I shared this activity with a Senior recently(over 70) who wanted some maths puzzles.

The Senior sent an answer of 21, my response was well done but have you considered all the different sized squares?

I have always loved this puzzle of a cat.  Mainly because most people never find the "correct" answer the first time.

 Enjoy using these puzzles and get your students to create their own. Or you could ask "How Many Squares on a Chessboard?" ....