Math this week has had students buzzing with excitement. They were challenged with a great word problem where students had to work together with the materials they were provided. Every group of 5 students received one piece of flip-chart paper, a mason jar filled with manipulatives, pencils and their Math Journals. Away they went!
It was fascinating to see the students come together and work with each other so soon. The problem is a multi-step one where they had to live 'within the struggle' of math. In the end most groups were able to solve the problem and now we are putting the challenge out to you at home! Let us know how you do!
SWORD OF KNOWLEDGE
The dragon of ignorance has three heads and three tails. You can slay it with the sword of knowledge, by chopping off all of its heads and all of its tails. With one stroke of the sword, you can chop off either one head, two heads one tail, or two tails.
But the dragon is hard to slay! If you chop off one head, a new one grows in its place. If you chop off one tail, two new tails replace it. If you chop off two tails, one new head grows. If you chop off two heads, nothing grows.
Show how to slay the dragon of ignorance. How many chops do you need?
From The Math Fair Booklet By Ted Lewis
It was fascinating to see the students come together and work with each other so soon. The problem is a multi-step one where they had to live 'within the struggle' of math. In the end most groups were able to solve the problem and now we are putting the challenge out to you at home! Let us know how you do!
SWORD OF KNOWLEDGE
The dragon of ignorance has three heads and three tails. You can slay it with the sword of knowledge, by chopping off all of its heads and all of its tails. With one stroke of the sword, you can chop off either one head, two heads one tail, or two tails.
But the dragon is hard to slay! If you chop off one head, a new one grows in its place. If you chop off one tail, two new tails replace it. If you chop off two tails, one new head grows. If you chop off two heads, nothing grows.
Show how to slay the dragon of ignorance. How many chops do you need?
From The Math Fair Booklet By Ted Lewis