Math problem solving

The big focus for math in school has been learning through problem solving. This is perfect for kindergarten as our inquiries and play often lead us to math problems. Our school has been looking at one particular aspect of the number sense and numeration strand called proportional reasoning. Proportional reasoning is the foundation on which we built deeper more complex knowledge of numbers and algebra. Yesterday, we had a very difficult math problem! Students worked in pairs or triads to try and draw out a solution (literally draw because they used a whiteboard and markers). The question was if in inside a barn you see 10 legs, what animals might you see and how many are there. Some students decided to draw chickens which meant that they drew 5 chickens with two legs each. Where it got really tricky was when students used a four legged animal because then they were left with two legs at the end. A few students figured out that they might have two cows (8 legs) and one chicken (2 legs). Great learning for all!

For more info about proportional reasoning: Paying Attention to Proportional Reasoning