The Detective Game

Age
6-9.

Materials
An envelope of 54 triangles of 3 different colors; of 3 different sizes and 6 types:


 * 9 acute-angled isosceles triangles.
 * 9 right-angled isosceles triangles.
 * 9 obtuse-angled isosceles triangles (three of each color).
 * 9 acute-angled scalene triangles (three of each size).
 * 9 right-angled scalene triangles.
 * 9 obtuse-angled scalene triangles.

Preparation
Directress and child.

Presentation

 * 1) The triangles are scattered on the table.
 * 2) The directress says, "I want only one of these. Can you guess which one it is?"
 * 3) The child may guess or choose one.
 * "No, that is not the color of the one I want".
 * 1) The child guesses the color and isolates all of the triangles of the right color.
 * 2) The guessing goes on, each time eliminating some triangles as the qualities are narrowed down.
 * 3) As each correct quality is identified, the directress writes a label, i.e. after the child has found that the triangle must be green, the three labels are arranged: the green triangle.
 * 4) At the end, when only one triangle is left, the adjectives cover all of its characteristics: the large green obtuse-angled isosceles triangle.
 * 5) The child reads the labels.
 * 6) Directress says: "It was necessary to use many adjectives to find the right triangle from among that large group".
 * 7) The labels are taken up and mixed and lain out again.
 * 8) "With the same adjectives we would still be able to find the correct triangle, but the arrangement/order of the adjectives usually sounds best in only one way".
 * 9) The child rearranges them to find which order sounds best.

Control Of Error
The Directress.

Purpose

 * To give a very strong impression of each function of speech.