Students
solve one problem, and then must find the other person in the room who
has their "Other Half" i.e. a different problem with the same
final answer.
This activity can be quick
or long depending upon how hard you make the problems. It gets folks talking
math with each other.
Create a set of
problems and
use them repeatedly as warm-ups, or quick fillers,
or on
days when time is not plentiful.
HERE'S WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE:
- Write out an answer guide
with pairs of problems; each pair should have two different problems
that both end with the same answer.
click HERE to see
an example
- Next, make up actual cards
with these problems on them. Each card should have its own circled
identification number at the top. Keep these cards together by
matches.
click HERE
to see and example
- Before your students arrive,
write 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place
etc. on the board and place a piece of tape underneath each place.
(This will get students interested as soon as they enter.)
- Begin by passing out scrap
paper to each student and have them write their name on it.
- Pass the cards out making
sure that matches do not go to kids sitting beside each other.
(You may want to plan it so that you pass the harder questions to the
brighter kids so that they are more challenged.)
If you have an odd number of students, give one
of the harder problems to the brightest student and tell her there is
no match for it, she just has to get it correct.
- Students copy down the problem
and its circled identification number onto their scrap paper
and then do it showing all work.
- Next they must find their
"Other Half" somewhere in the room.
- When they find each other
they quickly go to the board and tape their scrap papers face down
under the 1st or 2nd or 3rd place etc. spots, in order.
- When everyone is taped up,
the teacher will check to see if the mathches on the board are correct.
- We recommend letting at
least half of the pairs win some sort of prize or bonus to keep the
slower students trying. The first place pair can win a better prize
or more bonus.
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