Starchild: Triangles are everywhere, say Malaysian kids!

Mithrasri Siva Chandran, 9

Have you ever noticed how many things around us look like triangles?A triangle is a shape with three sides and three corners. It can be big or small, and its sides can be of equal or different lengths.

Yum! A slice of pizza is shaped like a triangle, with a pointed end. Photo: The Star/Leong Wai Yee

Look at a slice of pizza. Its pointed end and two straight sides make it look like a triangle. A slice of watermelon has a similar shape too. The top of a house can also look like a triangle, especially when you look at its roof from the front.

Triangles are not just found in food and buildings. Do you know they are also used in music? The triangle is a small metal percussion instrument. It is made from a metal bar bent into a triangle, with a small gap at one corner. When a musician strikes it with a metal beater, it makes a bright, ringing sound.

Triangles are useful because they are strong and stable. That is why they are often used in bridges, roofs and other structures.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 11

Can you find three triangle-shaped things around your home or school? You might be surprised by how many you can spot!

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Triangles.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 11, writes: "I am surprised to discover that some of my favourite foods are in the shape of a triangle – pizza, waffles, watermelon and nacho chips! The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is another landmark that reminds me of a triangle. I would love to visit it one day!"

"I can only think of foods when it comes to triangular shapes like sandwiches, biscuits, samosas and of course, wedged-shaped cheese. I always eat these delicious food. My favourite food out of these are biscuits, because they taste very sweet and sugary," writes Mithrasri Siva Chandran, nine.

ITEM: Do you have a great idea to help make the planet cleaner and greener? We want to hear from you! Tell us how you help the environment or share your own eco-friendly idea. You can also draw a picture of your idea, invention or a greener Earth. Be creative, have fun and show us how you care for our planet!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Sept 25. Please put "STARCHILD: Eco-friendly kids" in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.