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University of Nottingham
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Sidewalk patterns
This resource features a task that involves finding an nth term rule for a quadratic sequence.
Students investigate a sequence of pavement patterns. The patterns are constructed with blocks arranged in a square at the centre, blocks arranged in smaller squares at each corner, and then a different colour of block filling in the gaps along each border.
The task can be approached in a variety of ways, so students do not necessarily need to have prior experience with quadratic sequences. There is some scaffolding to the task with students asked questions to help them with the investigation.
Examples of student work are given for peer assessment. These show a variety of approaches to the task.
This task is from the Mathematics Assessment Resource Service, a collaboration between UC Berkeley and the Shell Centre team at the University of Nottingham. A full rubric is given for the task. Further information on the collection is given here.
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Sidewalk patterns (rubric) 104.52 KB
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Sidewalk patterns (student work scored) 525.31 KB
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Sidewalk patterns (task) 82.15 KB
Show downloads
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Sidewalk patterns (rubric) 104.52 KB -
Sidewalk patterns (student work scored) 525.31 KB
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Sidewalk patterns (task) 82.15 KB
Download all files as a .zip1.04 MB
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