Many teachers still approach problem-solving as if it is a standalone topic to be taught in isolation. There are classrooms with Problem Solving Friday, for example. Doesn’t that send the message that we don’t do problem-solving on Monday through Thursday? And certainly not on the weekends! Let’s see how we can use problem-solving together with a making ten activity.
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We can and should incorporate problem-solving into our daily math instruction. One excellent way to do that is to allow students to struggle and figure out ideas on their own, rather than explicitly teaching a concept. In other words, let them do the work instead of you!
Here’s an example. Knowing all the combinations for 10 is a critical Kindergarten/1st Grade skill, so we want to frame that as a problem to be solved.
Suzie’s mom is going to let her eat 10 pieces of candy. She can choose between candy pumpkins and candy corn. How many of each type of candy could she choose to eat?
Give students 10 candy pumpkins, 10 pieces of candy corn, and a ten frame and let them work with a partner to find a solution. Resist the urge to “show” them how to find the combinations! After students have had some time to work on the problem, start a class chart to record the combinations the students found. Initially, just call on pairs and record their responses by listing them. In other words, don’t organize them yet.
After you have listed all the ways the students came up with, pose the question I wonder if this is all the combinations? If students are not already familiar with the word combinations, now would be a good time to introduce it to them. Here’s where you do a little teaching. This is a great problem to use the Make an Organized List problem-solving strategy. Do a think-aloud and explain that maybe organizing the list might help us determine if we have all the combinations. Then, rewrite the list in an organized format:
Give students a chance to work with their partners to decide if they think we have all the possible combinations. They may add more, but they still might be missing some. Explain that organized lists are helpful because they often show patterns that help us out. Ask them to look at the list again and see if they notice any patterns.
Do you see how you’re just slightly shifting the teaching workload to the students and allowing them to discover the answer on their own? You still have a plan, and you know what you want to teach, but you’re just pulling it all together at the end–filling in the gaps, so to speak.
BTW, this activity works great for combinations of 5, too. If you’d like to try this activity, you can grab either a sheet of 5-frames or 10-frames by clicking on the links.
This is perfect for practice with decomposing numbers! The kids will love the real world connection. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Mary
Mrs. Lirette’s Learning Detectives
My pleasure, Mary! The candy connection can’t hurt either. LOL
We did something similar with red and green apples this week. I so agree though. Putting them in charge of finding solutions is so much more powerful and to do it in a meaningful context is even better. Thank you for sharing your thoughts again!
❀ Tammy
Forever in First
I agree totally! You could do this same activity with two-color counters, but it would not be nearly as meaningful.
I was using a Fosnot apple boxes format. I really like your take on the idea though as well. I can already see how I would modify things for next year. Your blog inspires me a lot. Thank you! (I posted about the importance of strategies vs. right answers this morning. Then to read your post was a fun follow-up for me.)
Donna,
You have just been recommended as an awesome on blog to follow on my linky party blog. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. Stop by and pick up some free Halloween Clipart.
Charlotte
http://www.cathedralkindergarten.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for sharing my blog, Charlotte. I’m a new follower of your blog now, too! 🙂
This will be a great follow up to the apple basket problem my kids did recently. We have been having so much fun with these types of activities that I can’t imagine ever going back to “Problem Solver Day” like I did years ago and only solving problems once a week!
Love the Halloween ten-frames!
Carol
Still Teaching After All These Years
Incorporating problem solving is so much more engaging for the kiddos! I love your enthusiasm, Carol. 🙂
I agree that we don’t allow enough time for the students to think about problems. Sometimes, it does get pushed into just one day a week. I love your ideas! I am thinking that this may become one of my “observation” lessons! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! I think this would be a great lesson for your observation.