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