Maths like a pirate.

WOW!  WOW!  WOW!

What incredible work took place today in Maths like a Pirate.

The Challenge:

• Build a bridge between two chairs.
• Only use newspaper and sticky tape.
• Measure how long your bridge is.
• Measure how strong your bridge is.
• Drive a toy car across your bridge.

This was the 4th time we have done a Maths like a pirate challenge, and the 2nd attempt at building bridges.  (The first 2 challenges involved making pirate hats.)

The improvement in team work, understanding of the task and problem solving this time was nothing short of incredible.

I  WAS  SO  PROUD  OF  THESE  CHILDREN.

 After the challenge there are questions to discuss and comments to make.

Where is the maths in this challenge?
"Measuring how long" "finding out how strong it was" " checking the size" "finding out how big to make something"  "making things thicker" 

Who, or what, inspired your ideas?
"I thought of them myself."  "I practised at home."  "I thought about real bridges."  "We got ideas from The Impossible Bridge book."  "I liked Harry's ideas last time and we used some of them in our bridge this time." "Ben"
"Ethan's team."

What was difficult?
"Time - 20 minutes went too quickly.  Mrs Mac had to give us longer." 
"Making the bridge." (Managing) "the tape). "Stopping it from getting saggy."
"Nothing."

What would you do differently next time?
"I would put a roof on."  "Make it not so long."  "Measure the strength with the scissors box."  

How well did your group cooperate?
"Awesome!"         "Not very well" (this group split into two at the beginning after a disagreement about whether or not to put a roof on the bridge. The split was amicable and they thought it was better than fighting.)

Some groups showed particular engineering skills and cooperation.  Check out these details:

 Tanner, Ebony and Alex worked very hard to make robust supports for their bridge.  It was so strong it could hold a chair.

Ethan, Annabel and Duncan couldn't pile anything more on to show how strong their thick beam bridge was.

 Harry, Sam, Victor and Daniel rolled up newspaper to put sides on their bridge.

Ben, Amelia and Riley put strong supports under their bridge.

 Mya put a roof over her bridge.