Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Teaching Mathematics through Problem Solving in the Primary and Intermediate Grades Diana V. Lambdin Indiana University USA

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Planning and teaching problem-based lessons Identify mathematical goals Select an appropriate problem Plan and carry out the three parts of the problem-based lesson: Launch Explore Summarize

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Effective problems: Involve important mathematics Consider what the children may know Can be approached in more than one way.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Let’s look at some examples of problems

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet A sample task Think about the number 5 broken into 2 different amounts. Draw a picture to show ways that 5 things can be in two parts. Make up a story to go with your picture.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet A sample task Provide a collection of coins (real, pictures, or a list) -- for example, 8 nickels (5¢), 9 dimes (10¢), 2 pennies (1¢), and 7 quarters (25¢). Ask students to find the total in two different ways. (Can lead to discussion about various ways to make 10s or 100s.)

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet A sample task Find ways to measure our Halloween pumpkin. Write a letter to our pen pals that will help them know how big our pumpkin is.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet A sample task A fifth grader was trying to put numbers in order from smallest to largest. This is what he did: What would you tell him?

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Now let’s consider a problem AND the lesson launch: Teacher goals for a 3rd grade class: Engage children in exploring multiplication/division (x/÷) concepts Assess levels of student understanding of x/÷ -- for planning future lessons

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet The Doorbell Rang The Doorbell Rang, by Pat Hutchins, is a story about children sharing cookies among friends. Copyright laws prevent us from including the complete story in this powerpoint posted on the www.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Suggestions for using children’s literature as a lesson launch above all, enjoy the story first read the book aloud let children respond personally encourage problem responses in a variety of modes (pictures, words, symbols, number sentences)

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Benefits of using children’s literature to teach mathematics Motivation - stories have universal appeal Familiarity - most children have experience with reading or hearing stories Structure - stories can provide a defined context where problems can be explored Language - stories bridge the gap between informal, oral language and formal symbolic mathematical language

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet More benefits of using children’s literature in math Integration - stories can bring many aspects of the school curriculum together (reading, math, science, social studies, art) Shared experience - stories provide children a common starting point for discussing math ideas

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Suggestions for using stories as problem launches Try to pose problems with more than one answer, or more than one way to get to the answer (or both) Encourage multiple approaches and use of multiple representations Let children know they will be asked to share their thinking and to react to each other’s ideas

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Selecting a problem: What kinds of multiplication/division problems could you pose from this launch?

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet The “sharing cookies” problem Suppose you had 18 cookies. How many different ways could 18 cookies be shared fairly with breaking any? Using pictures, words, or numbers and math sentences, show all the different ways the cookies could be shared. Show how many people would get cookies, and how many cookies they would get.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Teaching actions “during” the problem solving Circulate and listen to students Ask questions Encourage student ideas Resist explaining or telling Provide hints and extensions as needed

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Teaching actions “after” the problem solving Promote a mathematical community of learners Encourage student-student questions & dialogue Expect explanations with all answers Listen actively. Do not evaluate. Summarize main ideas.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Another problem-based lesson: Pattern Block Trains Teacher goals: perimeter, pattern recognition, use of variables, generalization Pick a pattern block shape. Build trains of that shape only. Find the perimeter of each train. Predict the perimeter of any train.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Lesson launch: Let’s try it for triangles!

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Hexagon Trains Compute the perimeter for each of the first 4 trains. Determine the perimeter for the 10th train without constructing it. Write instructions for finding the perimeter of any train without constructing it. Find as many different ways as you can to compute (and justify) the perimeter of any train.

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet The “Summarize” phase of the lesson Ask students to share their formulas -- in words, or in symbols. Ask for explanations, justifications. If students have different formulas, compare them. Do they give the same result?

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Does the formula make sense with the blocks? Sometimes students generate formulas by looking at tables of values. Ask them to explain where the numbers in their equations come from. Example: P = 4N + 2 Why 4? Why 2?

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Comparing different formulas P = 4N + 2 P = 2N + 2N + 2 P = (2N + 1) + (2N + 1) P = (6 - 1) + 4(N - 2) + (6 - 1) P = 5N - 1(N - 2)

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Discussing Student Ideas Amanda, a sixth grade girl said: To find the perimeter of any hexagon train, take the number of blocks in the train, add the next number, then double the result. Does this always work? Does it make sense?

Teaching Math through Problem Solving Nationellt Centrum för Matematikutbildning vid Göteborgs Universitet Next part of the workshop Return to our original room for wrap-up discussion