On Friday, P7 began a new Problem Solving topic. Over the coming months they are going to learn and develop problem solving strategies, including taking a systematic approach; efficient recording methods and identifying rules and patterns. These skills will be transferrable not just across Maths but to help in solving everyday problems and puzzles.
Our first problem was a ‘finding all possibilities’ puzzle. There are many examples of professional football teams turning up to games without the right kit, or even no kit at all!! With this in mind the children had to identify how many different kits could be made from 2 sets of shirts, shorts and socks; then 3 sets, 4 sets and so forth.
The children selected their own method for solving the problem, which included using diagrams, colour-coded notes and even making the various options with kits. Everyone was surprised by how many different possibilities there were, and all agreed at the end that a systematic approach would make it much easier and quicker to solve.
P7 will return to this problem and similar in the next few weeks. Watch this space to see how we get on!
