Education Technology


Bats Triangular

Activity Overview

Students use manipulatives to construct a pyramid. The manipulative pyramid then becomes the basis students use to construct a pictorial representation of a pyramid. The TI-10 is used to show symbolic representation of students actions and also aids students in viewing the developing pattern.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 129 - 135 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the page to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:
    Activity A:

  • Read the book Bat Jamboree to the class
  • Use manipulatives to model the action on the stage
  • Recognize the pattern to know the number of manipulatives needed each time
  • Add a row with one or more manipulative than the previous row, until a total of 55 manipulatives have been used to form the pyramid


  • Activity B:
  • Create picture representations of pyramids on paper
  • Use the calculator to track the number of manipulatives in the pyramid and record the number sentence
  • Explore triangular numbers through the use of objects, symbols, and the calculator
  • After the Activity

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary