Activity Overview
Students make a variety of sizes of squares using square color tiles. With the squares, the students discover patterns and make prediction. They explore and understand the concept of square numbers.
Before the Activity
Set up the calculator as explained in the activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 27 - 30 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Use square colored tiles with the dimension 1 unit by 1 unit to build larger squares
Draw the squares on graph paper
Examine the relationship between the total number of tiles and the side length of each square
Write the pattern using x and y
Label the side length of the square as x, and the total number of tiles as y
Observe that x2 = y
Discuss square numbers
Use the calculator to create a table of square numbers
After the Activity
Students complete the Student Activity sheet.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary