MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
RESOURCES

Tasks
Poly Plug ... Professor Morris
Sphinx Shapes ... Trisquares ... Pyramid Puzzles ... 3d Geoshapes ... Tricubes ... Pentagon Triangles
Calculator Activities ... Maths Mat

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Black Douglas Publications

Poly Plug

Professor Morris Puzzles

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Other Resources

 

Tasks


  • The Mathematics Task Centre Project is managed by Black Douglas on behalf of Curriculum Corporation, Australia. Tasks are hands-on problem solving experiences packed with the equipment students can use to set up and manipulate the problem. All the information about these resources and their professional development purpose can be found at the Mathematics Task Centre Home Base.
    Swedish teachers call these tasks Mattegömmor
    - a place where mathematics is hidden.

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Task 90

 

Sphinx Shapes

  • 100 sturdy, colourful, plastic Sphinx Shapes.
  • Only $55.00
  • Price includes GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Explore the iceberg of the Sphinx Task 166 from the MathematicsTask Centre Project. Also explore its iceberg as Maths300 Lesson 25: Guest ... Member
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia

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Sphinx Shapes

Sphinx Shapes


 

Trisquares

  • 108 strong Plastazote shapes in 6 panels of 18.
  • Only $88.00
  • Price includes GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Multiple uses (in a similar way to Sphinx) including spatial discrimination, perimeter, area, problem solving, value relations, number patterns and algebra.
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia

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Trisquares

 

Pyramid Puzzles

  • 4 sturdy, colourful, plastic pieces as shown which fit together to make 1 pyramid.
  • 25 pyramids $110.00
    50 pyramids $198.00
    100 pyramids $375.00
  • Price includes GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Pyramid Puzzle is Task 101 from the Mathematics Task Centre Project. Explore Pyramid Puzzle through its task cameo.
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia
Pyramid Puzzles

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3d Geoshapes


We promote a basic range of 3d Geoshapes in standard solid colours to support problem solving investigations such as the one pictured in the Mathematics Task Centre Project card shown. For example, teachers wishing to convert this task to a whole class lesson would need four packs of 60 squares.

  • Equilateral Triangle
    Pack of 102 pcs - $39.00
  • Square
    Pack of 60 pcs - $39.00
  • Pentagon
    Pack of 30 pcs - $39.00
  • Hexagon
    Pack of 24 pcs - $39.00
  • Class Starter Pack
    102 Triangles, 120 Squares, 30 Pentagons, 24 Hexagons - $176.00
  • Learning Space with 3d Geoshapes ... Book 1
    $22.00
    Year K - 2, Doug Williams (Editor)
  • Learning Space with 3d Geoshapes ... Book 2
    $22.00
    Years 3 - 6, Doug Williams (Editor)
  • Cube Nets is Task 31 from the Mathematics Task Centre Project. Explore Cube Nets through its task cameo.
  • Prices include GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia
Cube Nets

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Tricubes


These unique, sturdy, 3D foam pieces have many applications. For example: Tessellations, Volume, Surface Area, 3D Constructions and Isometric Drawing. One of their special properties is that 4 Tricubes make a Tricube. As with Sphinx, this property opens the door to numerical patterns and algebra.
  • 100 pieces - 25 x 4 colours - $143.00
  • Tricubes are used in several tasks from the Mathematics Task Centre Project. For example, explore the task cameos of Tricubes and Tricube Constructions A
  • Prices include GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia
Tricube Pieces

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Pentagon Triangles


Explore shapes - triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, dodecagons and others - and properties related to angles and side lengths with these sturdy, colourful and tactile pieces. Problem solving challenges about shapes lead to discovery of Square Numbers, Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Ratio. Building similar shapes opens investigations into ratio and proportion.
  • Class set - 5 pairs of red and blue panels - $66
  • This collection of pieces makes 16 sets of 20 triangles. Each set is enough for one pair of students. The 20 triangles in a set are made up of 5 red and 5 blue of each of the two shapes of isosceles triangle shown in the photo.
  • Prices include GST.
  • Delivery charges apply.
  • Fax a purchase order to:
    Black Douglas Prof. Ed. Services
    Tel: +61 3 9726 8316
    Fax: +61 3 9727 4644
    or use our Order Form.
  • Pentagon Triangles is Task 81 from the Mathematics Task Centre Project. Explore Pentagon Triangles through its task cameo.
  • Please ask about prices beyond Australia
Pentagon Triangles

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Calculator Activities

I believe a calculator is a wonderful teaching aid. So much so that I have invested a considerable amount of time in the Calculating Changes network, which is the most complete way of seriously integrating the use of these machines into your primary maths curriculum.

I first began using calculators when teaching secondary school around 1976. In those days the calculator displays used red or green coloured lights and AA batteries - which ran out very quickly! In 1980 I began using the updated solar powered LCD display machines in my primary classroom. Over the decades I have gathered many useful activities which are shared here.

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Maths On A Plastic Mat

Involving the whole body in learning has been shown to lead to deeper and longer lasting learning. One of the aids I have found very useful in making use of this form of learning is a very large plastic mat which can be used inside or outside.
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