Integrating Mathematics and Digital Technologies in Year 4

The Australian Curriculum for Mathematics in Year 4 requires students to be given opportunities to use digital technologies to explore geometrical concepts.

Compare and describe two dimensional shapes that result from combining and splitting common shapes, with and without the use of digital technologies  (ACMMG088)

 

Create symmetrical patterns, pictures and shapes with and without digital technologies (ACMMG091)

Tynker2One way to do this is through creating simple visual programs to draw patterns using a visual programming language such as Tynker. Tynker offers teachers and students free access to a number of lessons and tutorials to get started in Visual Programming. For true beginners, they also have an app that can be used on the iPad that provides an introduction to basic programming ideas such as sequencing, repetition and decisions.

One of the free lessons provided by Tynker is called “Pattern Maker”. This lesson can be undertaken by students at their own pace with very little intervention required from teachers for most students. The benefit of this self-guided approach is that the students are able to explore the mathematical and programming concepts with a good deal of independence and the teacher is able to support students by reviewing basic coding concepts with students who need this support, or challenge individual students through questioning and encouragement, “How might you make this pattern….?”

When students were engaged in the Tynker lesson, there was an excited buzz in the room as the students explored the effects of changing bits of code on their resulting patterns. Students were happy to share their growing knowledge and answer their classmates’ questions: “How did you do that?” The informal chatter gave students opportunity to practice using language to describe their coding as well as the geometrical language being developed in Mathematics.

Students can showcase their work and share it with their teacher, classmates and the broader Tynker community. By visiting the Maths Patterns Hour of Code Gallery, students can be further inspired to be creative with their coding. Tynker1

To assess their success in this activity, students could write or talk about their favourite pattern creations, explaining both the Mathematics and Digital Technologies concepts used in creating their work.

 

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