12/15/201557 Comments Plastic Plate Activities for Math Class
You can adapt this idea to other topics too, but these are the ones I have made so far. After trying a few different topics with these puzzles, I noticed that they really motivate students to find more efficient mathematical methods and develop their own shortcuts to try to solve them faster! ... Awesome for critical thinking!! Puzzle-StyleThree of these are puzzle-style activities in which students have to spin three layers of plates. The goal is to line up the numbers so that each set of three numbers will meet the criteria. For these ones, I pressed a paper between two plates to get an imprint of the circle. I cut it out to the right size and made a little template. I folded to make 8 sectors. I traced a candle for the center circle, then eyeballed the halfway point from that circle to the edge to make the three layers of numbers. I kept this template and now I re-use it each time. I just lay it under the plates while I create each activity.
Once you have a template set under the first plate, go around and copy the innermost set of numbers (see my photos below for sets of numbers that work for each puzzle). Set another plate on top and do the next circle of numbers, then lay the third plate for the outermost set of numbers.
For the puzzle-style activities, I try to make them only have one correct answer (If one ends up with more than one solution, no problem - you'll just get a good conversation going about it!). I found it helped to put a little arrow on one layer to point out one row to record as a "check row." This makes it easier to grade. If you use this as a station, the students just need to record that set of 3 numbers, and you can check answers in one second.
Triangle Inequality Theorem PuzzleFor the Triangle Inequality Theorem one, students must spin the three layers of plates until they can get ALL 8 sets of numbers to represent the 3 side lengths of POSSIBLE triangles at the same time. This offers a great critical thinking challenge and really reinforces the concepts behind the side lengths of triangles. By the time they test and spin a few times, the students get a ton of practice with the theorem. They start analyzing patterns in an attempt to test cases more quickly. It's a pretty good challenge!
The image shows the solution, so the "check row" for students to record if they get it would be 818. Triangle Sum Theorem PuzzleThis one is similar, but takes even more thinking. Two of the layers have angle measures, and the third has the triangle classification. As they spin and test to find the solution to this puzzle, students have to first determine what the third angle measure will be (using triangle sum theorem - 180 degrees). Then, they can think about the classification. Again, they will develop shortcuts on their own as they work. The motivation to solve the puzzle leads them to find their own ways to become more mathematically efficient!
Again, the solution is shown here. The set for a "quick check" would be 64, 58, acute. Integer Addition PuzzleYou can never have too much practice with integers in Pre-Algebra. I love this one for switching it up. The 3 layers have to be arranged so that each set of 3 numbers adds up to 10. You can easily make a huge set of these, each with different "goal" numbers.
Function MachineThese work a little differently..... Instead of using a table on a worksheet, students can manipulate the plate and try to figure out the rule. It's not too fancy, but you can use basic or more challenging function rules and show the idea of a function in a different way for those hands-on / visual learners. Some kids enjoy using these for practice. I just draw the function machine on the top layer, and arrange my input and output values on the bottom layer. As the kids spin it, they try to find the function rule that defines each relationship.
The colored one is a "basic" level. The rule is f(x) = 2x + 1. Rotations on the Coordinate PlaneThese are a fun addition to transformations. I put the coordinate plane on the bottom of one plate, and the students use a dry-erase marker on the top plate. Everything spins so smoothly and stays aligned. It is the best way I have found so far to do rotations manually. It helps to mark off a line every 90 degrees for reference. You can do more marks if you want to do other rotations. Click here to download the jpg image file for the coordinate plane if you do not have a printable one in this size already.
Video Directions
This video shows a little more detail if you are interested in making a set for your class. Click the image to head over to the "Tools for Teaching Teens" video blog site to watch! If you enjoyed this post, enter your email to join my subscriber list. I'll send tips, resources, and updates for math teachers straight to your inbox. Try these related posts for more: 57 Comments Math Giraffelink 12/28/2015 03:54:31 pm You're welcome! I am so glad you like the idea, too :) Reply Nancy Clink 3/21/2017 10:53:42 am Is there a video for the rotations activity? amanda 7/5/2018 02:02:30 pm Can you please post a video for the rotations activity? Christy Manuel 4/6/2022 09:42:36 pm Hi Math Giraffe, Math Giraffelink 4/7/2022 09:51:55 am Hi Christy, Jodi 12/31/2015 11:40:55 am Do you have some sort of directions for making these? I am not very crafty but I want to make these three designs for my classrooms!!!! Love these! I got the graph which is awesome. Reply Math Giraffelink 1/3/2016 02:36:09 pm Hi Jodi, Reply Math Giraffelink 1/13/2016 09:23:35 am Hey Jodi :) Mickey 1/3/2016 04:30:41 pm I absolutely love the homemade activities. Also, that you do not always have to use technology to help a child learn. Everyone of our students are issued laptops and I spend so much class time monitoring to make sure they are not surfing the net or playing a game when I could use this time actually teaching them something. Please, keep the non-technological ideas coming girl! Reply Math Giraffelink 1/6/2016 12:27:33 pm Thanks, Mickey! Reply James 1/7/2016 09:32:45 pm Simple idea + Clever thinking = GREAT learning option! Thanks for this winner!! Reply Math Giraffelink 1/8/2016 09:42:45 am :) Your comment made me smile, James. Thanks so much! I am glad you like it and I really appreciate your input. Hope your students enjoy! Reply Morgan 2/24/2016 03:46:26 pm How do you do the rotations one? It makes sense to help them move the shape, but is there any way for them to then draw the rotated shape onto the graph? Reply Math Giraffelink 2/24/2016 04:11:34 pm Hi Morgan, Reply Sue 2/20/2019 05:24:32 pm I know this is an old comment but I am going to use the rotation plate for the first time. If I use three plates to have them draw their own, does that mean that you pre-made all of your own shapes on the graph paper? Would they need several different pre-drawn shapes on different plates? Jackie 3/24/2016 02:21:55 am I love this idea! I think the integer puzzles are great. I'm wondering how long it takes you to come up with the combinations. I'd like to make more, just wondering how much time I'd need to set aside. Thanks. Reply Math Giraffelink 3/24/2016 08:57:47 am Hi Jackie, Reply GINGER A FORSYTHE 4/21/2016 02:14:15 pm I cannot figure out how to get the plastic plate activities downloaded. What am I missing? It says to subscribe for all the free items and once I subscribe and confirm I still don't get any access. What do I do next? I've been able to download a few of the Doodle Notes. G Reply Math Giraffelink 4/21/2016 07:03:59 pm Hi Ginger, Reply jodi 4/23/2016 06:49:22 am I made the rotations one and the kids thought they were so neat helped them see the rotation to be able to solve on their own! Reply Math Giraffelink 4/23/2016 06:40:39 pm Awesome! :) I'm so glad they liked it and it helped! Thanks so much for coming back to share how it went for your own students, Jodi! I really appreciate hearing it! Reply Chris 4/26/2016 11:47:32 am On the video it mentions making one with regards to acids and bases. Do you have something on that I could use? Reply Math Giraffelink 4/27/2016 12:57:43 pm Hi Chris, I have not made any science ones yet. It's just an example to get teachers thinking of how you can use this in subjects other than math. Thanks so much for your interest! :) Reply Barbara Saunders 4/30/2016 05:07:22 pm What size plates did you use? The dinner size or bread plate? Reply Jodi 4/30/2016 06:26:23 pm I used two small ones and out one black arrow on the top of e and red arrows around d the second plate so they knew if they were lined up correctly. Plus the coordinate plane that I printed fit perfectly on it! Reply Math Giraffelink 4/30/2016 06:10:21 pm Hi Barbara, Reply Mary 7/8/2016 03:44:05 pm Clever idea! I have made these puzzles and can't wait to use them this year! To add a challenge I was thinking of having the students create a puzzle of their own. Great math skills at practice AND more puzzles for the coming years! Thanks a million! Reply Math Giraffelink 7/11/2016 08:48:30 am Awesome idea, Mary! Reply Kathleen Wilder 10/15/2016 09:03:30 am I used these plates when I taught views of three dimensional figures. What a figure looked like from the bottom and being able to sketch it. I love these ideas! Reply Math Giraffelink 10/15/2016 01:51:12 pm Ooh, what a great idea! Reply I am the principal of our relatively small Christian school. Due to a teacher leaving, I am back in the classroom teaching Math6, Math7 and Math8. Reply Jodi 11/21/2016 06:26:26 am There is a link in the actual download plus she left some links in the comments. I've used the functions and rotations (also translations and reflections). I do some other things like for 6th grade I give them a laminated coordinate grid and open smarties on it, show them again the positive and negative sides and have them write down the color and ordered pairs and practice reflecting each ordered pair. Then they can eat their smarties. Pinterest is another great resource. Hope that helps. Reply Math Giraffelink 11/21/2016 09:20:07 am Thanks, Jodi! I love the idea of the smarties ;) So smart. Donna 2/11/2017 11:34:12 pm I don't see any downloads. Math Giraffelink 11/21/2016 09:21:44 am Hi Donna, Reply Jodi Staggers 11/21/2016 09:44:27 am I have come to realize that if you offer a little snack or enrichment for the material they like it! So smarties are cheaper than M and Ms plus no dairy allergies or peanuts to worry about because my son has allergies and I always have this stuff on hand!!! Reply Lindsey 2/9/2017 07:48:17 pm Thanks for sharing! I am working with a special needs student who CANNOT get the hang of rotations. So excited to use the plates with him! Reply Math Giraffelink 2/10/2017 04:01:30 pm Thanks, Lindsey! I really hope it works for him. Good luck! :) Reply 3/3/2017 09:33:13 am Love this idea! I plan to try it with my class next week. They really do much better when they have a hands on activity or visual, so I'm thinking the plates will work really well! Reply Math Giraffelink 3/3/2017 04:37:36 pm Awesome! Reply Christine Reese 8/12/2017 09:14:16 am These are fabulous ideas! I really need something to capture my students attention. Last year was, well let me say, not good. It got so boring for them. This s just what I need to breathe new life into my class. Thank you Reply Math Giraffelink 8/12/2017 06:06:11 pm Hi Christine! Reply Rosa 1/19/2018 06:28:23 am Thank you so much for this. I’m trying to figure out how multiplication and division for the integers one could work.. a little stuck- I’m thinking maybe it will have to involve two steps multiplication/ division for step 1 then addition for the second .. to get to the same total..thoughts? Reply Math Giraffelink 1/19/2018 10:34:07 am Hi Rosa, Reply Amie 1/25/2018 12:56:19 pm I can't get the plates lined up on the rotations. What size plates did you use? Any tips? Reply Math Giraffelink 1/27/2018 08:26:13 am Hi Amie, Reply Catherine Olivier 6/27/2018 07:58:41 pm Looking for ideas for third graders. This is awesome- would like 3rd grade activities if you have any. :) Reply Math Giraffelink 7/2/2018 08:11:31 am Hi Catherine, Reply Jodi 7/2/2018 10:15:55 am I teach junior high math but think that if you do anything with factors you could use the plates. If you do functions of adding or subtract fractions would work as well. Finding the line of symmetry? Reply Gina 10/30/2018 09:06:34 am Love these strategies! Thanks for sharing!! :-) Reply Math Giraffelink 2/22/2019 11:25:19 am Hi Sue, Reply Kim Cline 9/1/2020 11:26:00 pm I am trying to download the coordinate plane for the graph plates but it gives me a black page.....can you send it directly?? Great ideas!!!! And do you print it on clear sheets to attach it to the bottom plate? Or does white copy paper work too? Reply Math Giraffelink 9/2/2020 10:16:55 am Hi Kim, Reply Deann 4/15/2023 04:06:13 pm So cool! Already noted the rotations in my plans for next year. Btw, I also buy stuff from you on TPT. It’s been a lifesaver for me. Thanks so much for making my job easier and my kids learning more fun. Reply Math Giraffelink 4/17/2023 08:59:31 am Hi Deann, Reply | ArchivesDecember 2023 RSS Feed
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