Problem Solving Lesson Plan
| TITLE: Act out your problems |
| CONTENT
AREAS: Algebra |
| GRADE LEVEL: 6-8 |
| MATERIALS
NEEDED:
|
| KEY
CONCEPTS:
Poyla’s problem solving methods. Exploring different problem solving
techniques |
| EALR'S : |
| Grade Level Expectations (Make the connections clear and specific): |
| GOALS (Remember
the difference between goals and objectives): |
| OBJECTIVES: Students understand an alternative
way to solve math word problems. |
| PROCEDURES:
I would like every one to review the Problem Solving Steps chart. During today’s lesson you will need to make sure that you follow all the steps when solving your problem. Today I am going to break you up into groups of three. Each group will be given a math mystery to solve. There is one thing about these math mysteries that is required and that is, you may not use pencil or paper to solve the mystery. You have to act it out!!!
Now, raise your hand and tell me what you will do first thing when you get in your group. (Read the problem) Great! What is the next step, look up on the chart if you need to. (make sure every one knows what the problem is). Raise your hand if you can tell me what the next step will be. (Make a plan as to how you are going to act out this problem). Now what is the next step? (Act out the problem to find the answer). What is the final step going to be? (Look back or evaluate the solution). Great!!! Now, the idea of this exercise is to explore a way other than using a pencil and paper to solve a problem. When your group thinks they have the solution to your problem send a runner to me and let me know. After you have the solution, your group can practice acting out the solution, making it interesting, because you will be doing it for the whole class later. Break students up into groups according to skill level. The three problems have been rated by difficulty 1 (easiest) to 3 (hardest). Supervise groups as they work out the solution. Assist any group that may be stuck on a step. When all groups have found their solution, bring whole class together for demonstrations and debrief.
Each group acts out their mystery.
As each group is done, check with group to see if the solution to the
problem is reasonable (through the groups action). Problem #2 answer: Tim Tackle Problem #3 answer: It is under seat 75 |
| POST-ASSESSMENT |
Word Problems for Role Play:
Great Cafeteria Caper (level 1)
Hello there, math detectives. Boy, am I glad you showed up -- I've got a real pickle on my hands! My latest case took place at the local elementary school. I arrived at the scene and was immediately swept down the halls and into cafeteria chaos. A group of students sat at a lunch table staring unhappily at their trays.
"YUCK!" cried Matilda, making a face at the slice of pizza in front of her. "I can't stand pepperoni!"
"Don't look at me," pouted Raul. "I hate any food with cheese on it." At that, he pushed away his cheeseburger.
"Hey, anybody want these chicken wings?" asked Khaley. "I don't like anything with meat in it."
Mike scooped up a spoonful of his yogurt and grumbled, "Everybody knows I'm allergic to this stuff."
"Well, yogurt is the only thing I like on the menu," replied Tonya. "And there's no way I'm going to eat THIS!" At that, she poked her salad with a fork.
This was definitely a case for the Math Maven! "Hi, folks," I said to the hungry bunch. "Looks like you're all unhappy with your lunch."
"It's the new cafeteria lady, Ms. Maxy Mix-up," said Matilda. "She's mixed up all our favorite lunches and we're having trouble sorting it out."
"Don't worry," I said. "My
math detectives are here to help get the orders straight."
Solve the Mystery
Okay, super sleuths! Time to untangle this lunchtime knot. Each student has a favorite food. No two students share the same favorite. Your job is to match the student with his or her favorite food. You may want to make a chart to help organize the information. What did Mike order?
Answer: Mike ordered pizza
Sports Craze (level 2):
Greetings, detectives! Today around lunchtime, I stopped by the Third Strike Sports Store to buy a new fishing pole. I like to shop at Third Strike because the owner, Nathaniel Thatcher the 3rd, loves the number 3 — and, as you know, I love numbers too!
I always make a point to stop there on the third day of the month because that's the day Nathaniel holds the Third Strike contest: the third customer to buy something wins a prize — three sports balls of their choice. Well, today is the third day of the month, and I was hoping to win!
"Hi, Nathaniel," I said, entering the store. "I need a new fishing rod and reel. By the way, did I win the Third Strike contest?" I asked hopefully.
"Oh, drat!" he exclaimed. "Today's the third day of the month? I was so busy this morning, the contest completely slipped my mind. Oh no, I'm sure I've had more than three customers today. And I'd hate to gyp lucky customer #3 out of the prize!"
"Well, can you remember who the last customer before me was?"
"Hmmm . . . I do remember the last customer! It was a woman with a bright red jacket with a big diamond on the back. She bought three softballs."
"I know that woman," I replied. "That must have been Sally Swing, the star softball pitcher. Keep thinking, Nathaniel. Who else came in?"
"Well, my best friend, Tim Tackle, stopped in for three footballs this morning," Nathaniel recalled. "And a very tall man came in before Tim. He bought three basketballs."
"That must have been Dexter Dunk. He's a local basketball star," I replied. "Can you remember anyone else?"
"Wait," he murmured, rubbing his chin. Suddenly he said, "Yes, a woman came in right after Dexter — she passed him on his way out. She was a blonde woman . . . bought three tennis balls."
"Did she have really long hair?" I asked.
"Why, yes she did, Math Maven. I can't believe you know her too!" laughed Nathaniel.
"Oh, I know just about everyone in Point Logos," I answered. "That was Annie Ace. She lives right next to the public tennis courts. Can you remember any other customers?"
"Hold on, Math Maven. Now I remember!" exclaimed Nathaniel. "A man with really big muscles came in and bought three barbells."
"That must have been Ivan the Ironman. He runs the new gym," I explained. "He used to be a champion weight lifter."
"Well, I bet Ivan could lift a truck with one arm!" he said. "Come to think of it, Ivan must have come in after Tim, because I wanted to ask Tim about him the next time I saw him."
"Do you remember any other customers?" I asked.
"No, I'm sure that's all of them," he said with a nod.
"Good for you, Nathaniel. You just solved your own mystery!" I exclaimed.
"But how could I have? I still can't remember who the third customer was!"
"Don't worry, Nathaniel, my daring detectives
will come to your rescue."
Solve the Mystery
Super sleuths, now you know the five people who came into the Third Strike Sports Store. Use the clues that Nathaniel Thatcher the 3rd gave you to figure out who the winner of the Third Strike Contest is.
To help you with this task, draw a logic line by writing the word first on the left side of the line and last on the right side. Then place the customers' names on the line in the order Nathaniel said they appeared in the Third Strike Sports Store. One last thing, detectives — remember to pay attention to words like before and after. Now good luck, and find that winner!
Answer: Tim Tackle
Golden Bat Mystery: (level 3)
Hello there, clever detectives! Our local baseball team, the Sounders, needs your help! It all started last night at their opening game.
"For it's one, two, three strikes yer out, at the oooold baaaall gaaaame!" sing the fans. Photographers, reporters, and fans fill the stadium and are eagerly awaiting the traditional start of the game: Mayor Rhett Angle is to hit the opening pitch with the famous Golden Bat.
Little do they know that more than the game is at stake. A mystery brews down in the dugout...
"What?!" cries Mayor Angle. "What do you mean, 'It's gone'?"
The Sounders' manager, Bases Malone, is at a loss for words. The precious Golden Bat has been stolen by the notorious town curmudgeon, Bernie B. Grudge. Bernie tried to play shortstop for the Sounders last summer, but he was always tripping the runners. Malone had no choice but to let him go.
Bernie left this note in the dugout where the Golden Bat once stood:
Sorry if I'm holding up your game, Malone! You should have let me play on the team when you had your chance. Your precious Golden Bat is hidden behind one of the seats in this stadium. What's the seat number, you ask? Four hints:
· The seat is in section "A"
· The numbers 5 and 3 are both factors of the seat number
· The seat is red
· The seat is located in one of the highest rows of the section
"Mr. Mayor," moans Malone. "There are 2,000 seats in this stadium! It's going to take a real math whiz to crack this case."
"Well? What are you waiting for?!"
thunders the Mayor. "Get the Math Maven and her unstoppable Math detectives!"
Solve the Mystery
Okay, Math detectives, it's up to you to get this game back on the ball. I did some investigating and found that
- the stadium seats are numbered 1 - 2,000
- there are 100 seats in each section
- even-numbered seats are blue and odd-numbered seats are red
- seat numbers increase from lower to higher rows.
Get your logical thinking caps on tight and use the clues from Bernie's note to find the Golden Bat.
Answer: It is under seat 75