#62 Extend and Connect
Extend and Connect
As you read fairy tales or science news, keep an eye on combinations. Combinations of any two variables can be represented as grids. For example, luminosity and temperature defines different types of stars, such as a red dwarf or a blue giant. Any parent who sent a toddler (or sometimes a spouse) for “large spoons” or “red socks” and got wrong items back knows it’s a challenge to sort silverware or clothes by a combination of two variables!
Where in the table does a particular combination go? Where is the cell where the bird-dog “lives”? Toddlers will find the task easier if the table is almost filled, with just a couple of empty cells where their piece can go. For older children, ask “Where can 24 go in the multiplication table?” Pose the opposite question: what should go into a particular cell?
Ask kids how many possible combinations you can make with a certain number of heads and bodies. Kids can use a grid to show the reasoning behind their answers. Figure out how many possible ways you can put together a cut-up grid so it still has the structure.
