reSolve: Authentic Problems: Expanded Square

• This resource is very valuable for the year 4 mathematics content descriptions about the areas of regular and irregular shapes, describing and comparing shapes and creating symmetrical objects. Students are engaged in an investigation of the Japanese art of Notan, exploring the symmetry of the shapes, comparing the area of the dark and light areas, and creating their own expanded squares using mathematical processes.
• This resource is also of value for the year 4 content descriptions about equivalent fractions as students use fractions to describe and compare areas of the shapes they create.
• The resource is also valuable for supporting the Numeracy general capability. The lessons provide opportunities for students to visualise, identify and sort shapes and objects, describing their key features.
• The resource provides opportunities for students to develop Critical and Creative Thinking as they generate different designs by cutting and rearranging parts of squares.
• This resource is also of pedagogical value as it supports teachers in building an inquiry-focused learning environment with authentic application of mathematical skills and understandings. The unit uses a learning and teaching model with four phases: Discover, Devise, Develop and Defend. The unit aims to develop content knowledge as well as assisting students to understand the process of inquiry.

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