I had always assumed that the hexagonal tarsia were the
coolest (start with triangles – make a hexagon – you can’t complain about
that!). A couple of weeks ago I
discovered that the triangular ones are maybe even cooler. Having finished the big triangle (and taped
the pieces together rather than sticking them onto a piece of paper) pupils can
then fold it up to make a tetrahedron.
First of all, few seem to realise that this is feasible (“so a triangle
is really a net of a pyramid?”) but earlier finishers can also create their own
question/answer combinations to go on the blank parts of the triangle that will
be stuck together.
The one shown above comes from MrBartonMaths on TES.
Next step – I wonder if I can make my own ones with
questions/answers on every side of the triangles so that it will make a
complete tetrahedron. Will pupils be
able to work it out?
