Planning tool

Students:

• design, test and refine solutions to spatial problems
• use algorithms and sequenced steps to solve spatial problems
• use a variety of approaches, for example, dynamic geometric software
• communicate their approach, share reasoning and solutions to the problem.

Some students may:

• mistake algorithms as simply a procedure to follow to solve a problem, with a superficial approach to the task.
• have difficulty converting conceptual understanding into a series of steps.
• find it difficult to work creatively to identify possible solutions.

The Learning from home activities are designed to be used flexibly by teachers, parents and carers, as well as the students themselves. They can be used in a number of ways including to consolidate and extend learning done at school or for home schooling.

Learning intention

• We are learning how to use algorithms to test and solve a spatial problem.
• We are learning to apply geometric properties to solve geometric and spatial problems.

Why are we learning about this?

Problems of space and geometry apply to the world around us. It is useful to ask questions and draw on our knowledge and skill to solve these problems. Taking an algorithmic approach of sequenced steps helps to ground the mathematical concepts and to break the problem down into manageable steps.

What to do

You are a freelance designer and are going to design a skate park using a computer software program using 2D lines and 3D shapes orientating them to make a rideable 3D experience. You need to submit your plans and design instructions to council.

You will need to draw on your knowledge of location, shapes and objects made from shapes, particularly prisms. Prime your mind to think about what you know about shapes and their properties, ratios and scaling.

Ready?

1. Before you get into the design, first identify the ins and outs of the job. What do you need to do? Answer: design a skate park and, importantly, submit a set of design instructions for the council's builders to interpret and follow.
2. To create detailed and a practical series of steps to follow, you need to record every step you take to build your skate park online so that the council can follow and apply your design exactly to make a building plan.
3. Open a Word document or use paper or a spreadsheet to record your steps as you go. There is no point making a design and then forgetting how you did it.
4. Use a free CAD software app such as Tinkercad to create a simple skate park made up of 3D objects. Spend as much time on it as you want.  
5. Record the steps in detail in a practical order that can be followed.
6. To know if the council can follow your steps, ask your colleague (or friend) to recreate your design by following your steps using the software program.
7. Take note if they are finding your steps easy or difficult to follow. 
8. If they are having trouble, record what they are doing, where in the sequence they are having trouble, and whether they are making mistakes or improvements.
9. Ask yourself where the problems lie. Is it because your steps are jumbled? Are your steps too long and need to be broken down? Are your steps in the correct order?
10. Refine your step sequence. Once you're happy, submit your plans to council. Just kidding, but don't you wish you could?

Success criteria

• I can use my knowledge of space and shape to come up with my own skate park.
• I can use a design-thinking approach and use my creativity to solve this problem.