Curiosity is the name of the game in Madi Sessions’ Real World Math & Problem Solving class. Yesterday students worked with red cups discovering creative solutions and today was a new set of challenges to solve. The first puzzle of the hour was a good exercise in critical thinking. Sessions presented the idea that she was going to an island and could bring a specific item, let’s say pillow. There is a specific rule that students needed to figure out by asking questions to learn exactly what that rule is. They would go around the room and ask her questions such as “Can I bring a backpack?” and the answer was no. “Can I bring a book?” and the answer was yes. One student asked, “what about a fork?” No. Another asked, “how about a kitten?” Yes. “What do these items have in common?” Sessions asked. “Think about the words themselves and not so much about the type of item you are bringing,” she said, offering hints. Finally, after many questions, she said double-letter words such as noodle or classroom were allowed on the island.
The next rule was presented by camper Caroline. “I am bringing the sky,” she said. “Can I bring a diamond?” No. “What about a swimming pool?” Yes. “How about a blue whale?” Yes. The group picked up the pattern quickly this time and discovered the rule was to bring something the color of blue to the island.
Sessions handed out journals to the students and had them write “code breaker,” “patterns,” “logic,” and “coordinate” with numbers one through six next to each category. Cards were hidden in the room that students had to find, put in the correct category, and solve the puzzle. Students buzzed around the room, trying to complete the task as fast as they could.
When asked what she hopes students will take away from her class, Sessions talked about the importance of working together. “I hope they enjoy learning in a collaborative environment with others,” she said.
Only time will tell what real-world problems these kids will solve.
