I recently attended a session in which the speaker (@HeyyMissWilson) introduced us to a video by Robert Kaplinsky in which he presented a classroom of students this problem:
There are 125 sheep and 5 dogs in a flock. How old is the shepard?
There are 125 sheep and 5 dogs in a flock. How old is the shepard?
Mr. Kaplinsky (in his blog) goes into more detail the student responses as well as some implications as to why some students answered the way they did.
However, this scenario can be explored even further if we investigate how to foster critical thinking. Chapter 3 (Focusing on Quantities, Relationships, and Values) of my book explores ways to play with scenarios that strengthen understanding and formulating quantitative relationships.
How different would these students' answers had been if, before introducing the whole problem, they explored devising the last sentence with a partner or small group?
There are 125 sheep and 5 dogs in a flock. "What do you think the last sentence to this problem states?"
However, this scenario can be explored even further if we investigate how to foster critical thinking. Chapter 3 (Focusing on Quantities, Relationships, and Values) of my book explores ways to play with scenarios that strengthen understanding and formulating quantitative relationships.
How different would these students' answers had been if, before introducing the whole problem, they explored devising the last sentence with a partner or small group?
There are 125 sheep and 5 dogs in a flock. "What do you think the last sentence to this problem states?"
