|
|
| |
10ticks Press Area |
|
| |
Back to Press Area
Amazing Prime Numbers.
With most mathematical topics it is easy to inject an element of fun alongside
the academic challenge. Prime Numbers has long been one of those topics that
has few enjoyable aspects outside the academic satisfaction pupils derive from
a set of successfully completed exercises. For those who find mathematics and
number work difficult it remains a daunting topic. With this in mind these two
worksheets were written with the intention of spicing up Prime Numbers!
The Prime Pirate Maze works on a variety of ability levels. It sustains
interest in the work so an appropriate amount of consolidation on Primes is
achieved and deflects away from the number crunching required. After a certain
amount of time pupils start to recognise the "look" of a possible Prime without
resorting to calculation. The more able would not be allowed the use of a
calculator, and with some very low ability pupils the Prime Numbers could be
written across the top of the sheet. This may seem to defeat the purpose of the
work, but the very fact that they are using Primes over a period of time then
enables them to start recognising the "look" of Primes. This can then be used
as a basis for more traditional work as consolidation.
The maze also throws up the variety of tactics used to solve the problem. I
have found most pupils fall into one of three types:
The Maze proficient: Starts at any Pirate and colours the maze as they work
along the routes, possibly missing some of the turns.
The Maze efficient: Starts at the treasure and works backwards, realising that
there will be fewer wrong trails!
The Maze logician: Starts at the top line and colours all the Prime numbers,
and slowly works down the sheet, only at the end looking for the route. I think
this is the mathematical equivalent of train spotting, thankfully there are
very few in this category!
A Prime Maze also works on similar principles. This time calculating an answer
before a route can be discovered. This style of maze also annoys Maze
proficient as it is equally difficult from either end! It is more sophisticated
than the first maze and is appropriate for able pupils who can apply the two
different tasks (the calculation and spotting Primes) whilst remembering the
end goal of finding a route through the maze.
Ian Fisher
This article is about 10ticks worksheets Level 5 Pack 1 Page 30 and Level 5
Pack 1 Page 31.
Maths in Schools. September 2001. Vol 30 No 4.
|
|
| |
Corporate Information |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Press Releases |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Maths In Schools Articles |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Newsletters |
|
| |
Parent Newsletters:
Student Newsletters:
|
|
|
|