Lacing shoes  |  23 views  |  home  | Dutch version |  Classroom materials,
motivating pupils for math and science
The activity



Dutch Mathematics Day Contest 2018 (age group 15 years old)		Lacing shoes

Do you still have shoes with laces? Take a look at how the laces are laced in these shoes. Compare this with your classmates. Has this been done in the same way with all shoes? How many different ways are there to lace your shoes, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different ways? You will investigate that in this assignment.
Background information

Dutch Mathematics Day Contest

During the Dutch Mathematics Day Contest students work in teams of about 3 to 4 members on an open mathematical problem solving task during a couple of hours. The product of this work is a report (and sometimes a presentation).


Dutch Mathematics Day Contest 		Using your skills in a new setting
  • The task gives the students the opportunity to show what they have learned from mathematics and how they can use the knowledge and skills in a new situation.
  • Students can try, analyze, reason, calculate en design;
  • The (context of the) task is authentic, while the mathematics knowledge is easy to (re)use in this new situation;
  • Different teams can work 'on their own level' and this gives opportunities for differentiation;
  • There is a structure in the task from 'easy first steps' to a more complex end task.

Online learning objects from the Freudenthal Institute (Utrecht University)