Challenging Math Strategy for Students
Using the School Day Number to Challenge Students
Sep 26, 2008
A challenge for math teachers is to come up with new strategies for getting to their students to apply math concepts. One strategy is to use the number of the school day for students develop their own math problems. For example, today is the 35th day of school and students develop math problems that result in an answer of 35.
This strategy serves several purposes; the first provides an informal form of assessment of students’ understanding of math conceptual and process skills. The second, it allows students to be creative in developing math problems. The third, students are applying math concepts in situations in which they are personally connected.
Math Problems and School Day Number
There following are examples of how students can use the school day number to create a series of problems:
School Day Number 40 and Basic Arithmetic Operations
- 35 + 5 = 40
- 80 – 40 = 40
- 160 ÷ 4 = 40
- 8 x 5 = 40
School Day Number 35 and Geometry
- Rectangle’s perimeter: 10 + 10 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 35
- Circle’s circumference: 3.14 x 11.15 = 35
- Triangle’s area: 1/2 x 14 x 10 = 35
- Parallelogram’s area: 7 x 5 = 35
- Trapezoid’s area: 1/2 (7 x 5) 2 = 35
School Day Number 23 and Money
- 2 Dimes + 3 Pennies = 23 cents
- 1 Quarter – 2 Pennies = 23 cents
- 1 Dime + 2 Nickels + 3 Pennies = 23 cents
School Day Number 25 and Equations
- 2x + 5 = 25 (x = 10)
- 4x – 3 = 25 (x = 7)
- 4x – 3 = x2 – 24 25 = 25 (x = 7)
School Day Number 80 and Expressions
- 75 + 5
- 3x – 10 (x = 30)
- x2 + x – 30 (x = 10)
School Day Number 60 and Fractions
- 3/5 of 100 = 60
- 3/4 of 80 = 60
- 1/8 of 480 = 60
- 1/2 ÷ 1/120 = 1/2 x 120/1 = 120/2 = 60
School Day Number 34 and PEMDAS
- (3 + 2) (3 + 4) – 1 = 34
- (1 + 1)2 (7 + 3) – 6 = 34
School Day Number 50 and Word Problems
- Jim had 75 jelly beans. He gave 5 to Sallie, 5 to Denise, and 15 to Jake. How many jelly beans does Jim have left?
- Sallie wanted to determine how many desks would fit in a classroom. She could place desks 5 deep and 10 desks wide. How many desks could Sallie fit in the classroom?
This strategy can be used in a multitude of techniques to address math standards. Examples include:
- Reinforcement of math concepts and processes during and at the end of a unit
- Review of math concepts and processes before a test
- Making connections with real world math concept applications
- Representation and communication math ideas through problem development
- Use of problem solving techniques to develop a series of problems which result in the same answer
- Use of math concepts such as algebra, number and operations, geometry, reasoning and proof, etc.
Teachers are quickly provided with an informal assessment to determine their students’ level of understanding of math concepts and processes. Also, this informal assessment identifies students who may need extra help or tutoring.
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