Outline | Recommendations for Use | Curriculum Relevance | Activities | Links |
Number Crew 2: Shape and
Space 2
Programme 1: Changing Faces – Properties of 3-D Shapes
The four children of The Number Crew find themselves once more in the strange land of shapes. Flo has become a cube, Fiz a cuboid, Bradley a cone and Baby Bunting a sphere. An enormous pyramid appears demanding to know the names of their shapes. Matthew has to help. The pyramid tells the children they must solve a puzzle before they can return to the ship. In order to solve the puzzle, Fiz and Bradley change shape again and the pyramid blows them part of the way home.
Back to
top
It is recommended that teachers preview the programmes to note the places they might wish to stop the tape to encourage discussion. The programmes can be used as part of the introductory class activity, where the tape is stopped at pre-planned points and the whole class is encouraged to identify and review the problems posed or predict answers. Alternatively the programmes can be used as part of the main teaching activity before children pursue their differentiated tasks. At times it may be useful to use a whole programme as part of the plenary/last session of a lesson to allow children to review their own understanding of the work they have been doing and allow teachers to assess the children informally as they watch the programme.
Back to
top
The Number Crew 2: Shape and Space 2 is a unit of five 10-minute programmes designed to support key objectives in the National Numeracy Strategy for 6-7 year olds.
Back to
top
Before viewing
- Review previous experience of 3-D shapes. Have a collection of 3-D shapes or boxes. Talk about faces, edges, and corners. Have flash cards of the names of the shapes and link them to the appropriate example.
After viewing
- Discuss Matthew's challenge: We've seen shapes with one face, two faces, three faces and six faces. If The Number Crew had to find a shape with four faces, could they have done it? Can you?
- Make models using a wide variety of materials including Plasticine or play dough, building bricks and construction material. Making shapes from straws and pipe cleaners can give children another perception of 3-D shapes.
- Ask the children to find examples of pyramid shapes. Talk about the properties of pyramids – they can have different shaped bases. Children often think the base must be square. Make a giant pyramid big enough for the children to play in.
Back to
top
For further extensive information on how to use the programmes, as well as photocopiable activities, see The Number Crew 2: Shape and Space 2 Resource Book. To get more details about the whole Number Crew maths package for 5-7 year olds visit the website: http://www.channel4.com/numbercrew
Back to
top
