In an attempt to address the eight Math Practices in the graphic at left, I will expose the class to One Problem to Solve (OPTS), one of which is displayed below. Students will discover and create their own problems, while being guided by the teacher.
| |  | |
Watch this video, and describe the situation:
| Write down the first mathematical question that comes to mind. As a class, we will decide on a central question to work on. Make three smart guesses to answer the central question: a guess too low, a guess too high, and a guess in the middle. Place your guesses on the number line.
|
| |  | |
What information is necessary in order to answer our central question?
 Mary Lambright was attempting to haul a 53-foot box trailer containing 43,000 pounds of bottled water. |  Lambright tried crossing while hauling about five times what the bridge could handle. |  Image from Truckers Report |
What information is provided above?
What tools might you need to solve the problem?
What strategies might you use?
Solve to answer the central question.
What tools might you need to solve the problem?
What strategies might you use?
Solve to answer the central question.
| |  | |
How close was the actual solution to your estimate?
What would have helped you achieve a more accurate estimate?
What would have helped you achieve a more accurate estimate?
| |  | |
Did you make any mistakes along the way?
Fix them.
How might you avoid such a mistake in the future?
Explain your work to someone else? Did s/he do the work differently?
Can you explain the process using the other person's methods?
Fix them.
How might you avoid such a mistake in the future?
Explain your work to someone else? Did s/he do the work differently?
Can you explain the process using the other person's methods?
