This activity is to extend the making of cuisenaire. It provides a good environment for discovery and surprise. There are lots of different ways of exploring the ideas once the main ideas have been grasped. It can help develop skill in numerical pattern spotting.
Possible approach
It would be expected that the pupils will have achieved well in Cuisenaire Spirals found here. This is an extension of that activity and there should be little need of an introduction beyond what is written on the main activity page.
Key questions
What do you notice?
Is there some reason why that happens?
What other sets of numbers could you use?
Can you predict the pattern that using sets of numbers produce?