Make a triangle, a square and a pentagon using the matchsticks and valve tubes.
(Connect two matchsticks using a cycle valve tube and make sure the sticks are inserted properly in the tubes to form the joints!)
Task 2
Make the following table in your notebook and fill in the table by performing the actions mentioned in the second left column.
SL. NO.
ACTION
DOES THE SHAPE CHANGE?
WHY DO YOU THINK SO?
1
Sliding the shape on the floor/desk
2
Rotating the shape on the floor/desk
3
Flipping the shape on the floor/desk
4
Pressing on the opposite vertices of the shape
What, according to you, is ‘shape’? What causes a ‘shape’ to change?
(Click here to write )
Task 3
Try pressing on the opposite vertices of the Pentagon. Does it change shape? Now try pressing a vertex and a side of the triangle. Does it change shape?
(Click here to write)
What will happen if you do the same with a hexagon? Which shape does not change when pressed? How might this property be useful to us?
Extension Task 1
Try making as many different shapes as possible by deforming/twisting the Pentagon (without breaking it or opening up the joints). In particular, try to make
a triangle that has exactly two sides equal
a four-sided polygon
Extension Task 2
Try making a triangle in which all three sides are of different length. What would be the minimum number of matchsticks needed for this?
Giving the students the feel of the shape, helps them to process better. They can twist, flip, rotate, move and get the feel of how the shapes are. This is a wonderful experience what can be given to the students.
GEOMETRIC REASONING - I
Exploring Matchstick Shapes
Task 1
Make a triangle, a square and a pentagon using the matchsticks and valve tubes.
(Connect two matchsticks using a cycle valve tube and make sure the sticks are inserted properly in the tubes to form the joints!)
Task 2
Make the following table in your notebook and fill in the table by performing the actions mentioned in the second left column.
What, according to you, is ‘shape’? What causes a ‘shape’ to change?
Try pressing on the opposite vertices of the Pentagon. Does it change shape? Now try pressing a vertex and a side of the triangle. Does it change shape?
(Click here to write)
What will happen if you do the same with a hexagon? Which shape does not change when pressed? How might this property be useful to us?
Extension Task 1
Try making as many different shapes as possible by deforming/twisting the Pentagon (without breaking it or opening up the joints). In particular, try to make
Extension Task 2
Try making a triangle in which all three sides are of different length. What would be the minimum number of matchsticks needed for this?
(Click here to write)
