There are 6 orange shapes in the picture. Can you spot the one that isn’t a square? Crows can! Scientists created tests by showing these birds sets of shapes. When the crow picked the shape that was unlike the others, it got a mealworm treat. Crows are the only animals besides humans that can recognize regularity in shapes – as far as we know. Maybe other animals are just waiting for the right treat!
Wee ones: Can you count the squares – only the squares! – in the picture?
Little kids: If a crow gets 4 mealworm treats for each quiz they pass, and they pass 2 quizzes, how many treats does the crow get? Bonus: If a crow has to take 15 quizzes to prove it can spot squares, and it has taken 8 quizzes so far, how many more quizzes must it take?
Big kids: A square is a regular shape with equal-sized sides. If 1 side of a square is 2 1/2 inches long, what is the square’s total perimeter (distance around the whole edge)? Bonus: What’s the area of that same square with 2-1/2-inch long sides?
Answers:
Wee ones: Point to the squares and count them up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Little kids: 8 mealworm treats – yuck! Bonus: 7 more quizzes to reach 15.
Big kids: 10 inches. You can either multiply 2 1/2 x 4, or add up 2 1/2 + 2 1/2 + 2 1/2 + 2 1/2 to find the perimeter. Bonus: 6 1/4 or 6.25 square inches. One way to solve: 5/2 x 5/2 = 25/4.
