Step 8 Objective

Solve substantial problems by breaking them into simpler tasks, using a range of efficient techniques, methods and resources, including ICT.

Examples of what pupils should know and be able to do

Final Score investigation

The final score in a football game was 2-1

  • List possible half-time scores.
  • How many are there?
  • Investigate other final score.
picture of a line art football

Examples drawn from Final Score

Look at a set of related scores - e.g. 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1 and consider pattern in results.

two tables of scores that display patterns

Probing questions

What do you think makes this a substantial problem to solve/task to explore? When did you realise the potential of this problem/task?

What did you see as the main steps in solving this problem/working on this task?

How did you go about organising your approach? Did you need to make any changes to your planned approach?

What resources, including ICT, helped you to explore this problem/task? How?

What if pupils find this a barrier?

diagram showing three lines crossing

Line Crossings

  • Draw three straight lines (line segments) so that some cross over each other.
  • How many crossings are there?
  • Try different arrangements of the lines. What is the maximum number of possible crossings?
  • Try using more lines.
  • Is there a rule for the maximum for any number of lines? If so, write it down.

Use the problem Line Crossings.

How did you draw your line patterns to make sure that you had the maximum number of crossings?

Look at the table of results:

  • Is there a good pattern or not?
  • How would the result table help to show if you had made any mistakes?
  • How would you check if your predictions are correct?