The Tetrahedron Challenge
The Tetrahedron Challenge is a hands-on math activity that morphed
from individuals working independently
into a group thinking, cooperative community activity.
from individuals working independently
into a group thinking, cooperative community activity.
We began by showing students how to turn a letter-sized envelope into a three-dimensional shaped called a tetrahedron (every surface is a triangle). They were each to make four of these. They were then challenged to use these as blocks to build the same tetrahedron shape but bigger. It was a puzzling challenge and students undertook to complete it in many different ways. After a few students achieved it independently, they began to work with others to share how it could be accomplished. |
Unexpectedly, a competition broke out between a few small groups, with each trying to make more tetrahedrons than “the other guys”. We stopped our activities to analyze what was happening to our cooperative mission… Competition was leading to poor quality workmanship and threatened to make the BIGGEST tetrahedron impossible. |
Once back on track, students needed to solve the new problems of structural integrity and stability as their creation grew.
The finished product brought a feeling of great accomplishment and was admired by many visitors.
The finished product brought a feeling of great accomplishment and was admired by many visitors.
In later days, students worked at the theoretical task of designing the largest tetrahedron that could fit into the classroom without hitting the roof.
Students gathered information from the current structure and classroom site to use in the creation of their plans. Students needed to justify their proposals by showing their mathematical calculations and explaining their thinking. |