Flower power
This is a level 2 algebra strand activity from the Figure It Out series. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers' notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Select an operation symbol to complete an equation.
Flower power
Achievement objectives
NA2-6: Communicate and interpret simple additive strategies using words, diagrams (pictures), and symbols.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Levels 2–3, Algebra, "Flower power", page 19
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Flower power activity (.pdf)
Activity
It is best to work through the first example with the class so that students understand that they must find a single operation that relates the numbers on the petal to the number at the centre of the flower. Note how all the petal numbers in this example can be expressed as two multiplied by another factor.
Students will need to apply their knowledge of the structure of the operations addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example, with flower 37, the petal numbers are less than the centre number. This suggests that the operation is either division or subtraction since only whole numbers are involved. Students may realise that 37 is a difficult number to divide evenly because it is a prime number.
Subtraction is the only plausible operation left.
As an extension, encourage students to create their own flowers. These may include fractions as well as whole numbers.
- 24 flower: Use the ÷ bag. 24 ÷ 4 = 6, 24 ÷ 12 = 2, 24 ÷ 2 = 12, 24 ÷ 8 = 3, 24 ÷ 3 = 8, 24 ÷ 6 = 4
- 3 flower: Use the x bag. 3 x 6 = 18, 3 x 7 = 21, 3 x 1 = 3, 3 x 2 = 6, 3 x 3 = 9, 3 x 5 = 15, 3 x 4 = 12
- 37 flower: Use the – bag. 37 – 1 = 36, 37 – 23 = 14, 37 – 7 = 30, 37 – 16 = 21, 37 – 20 = 17, 37 – 28 = 9, 37 – 37 = 0
- 60 flower: Use the ÷ bag. 60 ÷ 2 = 30, 60 ÷ 3 = 20, 60 ÷ 6 = 10, 60 ÷ 5 = 12, 60 ÷ 10 = 6, 60 ÷ 12 = 5, 60 ÷ 4 = 15
- 5 flower: Use the + bag. 5 + 12 = 17, 5 + 3 = 8, 5 + 10 = 15, 5 + 15 = 20, 5 + 22 = 27, 5 + 6 = 11, 5 + 26 = 31
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