Schoolwide News

Triangular patterns  are the theme of this problem of the month! Tri-Triangles invites our community to explore how patterns grow! Even better: the problem has multiple entry points, so everyone can jump in, whether you like drawing, counting, building, or discovering patterns.

At the earlier levels, learners create triangle patterns with toothpicks and look for structure: What stays the same? What changes? How can you count without recounting everything? As the levels progress, the mathematics deepens. Students investigate how seating changes when triangular tables are pushed together, extend geometric designs, and develop general rules for the nth pattern. The later levels encourage algebraic thinking by using patterns to predict large cases, justify strategies, and work backwards from a result to the pattern number that created it.  This is my favorite type of mathematics to teach students, because it's accessible to everyone and also very challenging!

Last month’s Problem of the Month, Squirreling It Away, sparked some great problem-solving across grade levels, from using operations strategically to spotting patterns and making generalizations. If you’d like to compare your approach to mine, here's the  solution key for February's POM. 

I’m looking forward to exploring Tri-Triangles with you this month! Feel free to join in whether you’re a student, parent/guardian, teacher, or staff member, just email your solution to tcalcagni@eabdf.br or drop it off in US 19 ⅓ anytime in March.