Problems of the Week

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  • 1.  Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-28-2018 18:09

    Charlene's mom has agreed to let her do her holiday shopping using the Internet. Charlene has budgeted $100 for gifts this year, and she wants to buy presents for her mom, her dad, her little brother, her best friend, and her teacher. With the rest of her funds, she will buy materials to make holiday cards for other friends and family.

    Charlene has two requirements for the Internet sites at which she will shop. First, they must abide by the rule that Internet sites not charge tax on purchases. Second, they must offer free shipping and handling for holiday shoppers.

    After an hour of surfing the Web, Charlene has created the following list:

    - TerifficTops.com sells women's sweaters for $23.79
    - ForYourBrother.com has a marble racer for $12.22
    - ScarvesAndMoreScarves.com sells one scarf for $8.99 or two for $14.95
    - GardeningGrubbies.com lists all gardening books at $6.95 today only
    - MagicalBookworms.com offers Harry Potter books for $11.49 each
    - HowIsYourGarden.com has a video clearance, any video $12.25
    - StuffForBoys.com sells mini-tractors for $2.72 each
    - TeachersAreTreasures.com has apple paperweights for $10.99 each

    Here are the gifts Charlene has decided to buy:

    • one festive scarf and an Herb Gardening Greats book for her mother
    • a "100 Handy Horticulture Tips" video for her dad
    • one marble racer for her little brother
    • two Harry Potter books for her best friend
    • one holiday scarf for her teacher

    How much will Charlene have left for card supplies after she completes these purchases?

    Please note that the sites in this problem are fictitious - not places to try to do your shopping!


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    You can view the solution and additional teacher material here:  Holiday Shopping and Surfing - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics





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    Kristin Keith
    Professional Development Manager, NCTM
    Reston, VA
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  • 2.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-30-2018 14:40
    I love the incorporation of math and reading!! Also, I love the multitask ness of the problem. I could also change this problem to make it an error analysis task.

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    Heidi Hocking
    North Charleston SC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-30-2018 14:53
    I enjoy this problem as it is represents a real life connection for students.  I use Google Classroom and I would have my students create a table to insert and track the expenses.  I would want them to then create an equation, the solution, and explain their work, in the google document.  

    I am currently here in #Seattle! I think this would be fun to try when I get back, I also may tweak this, by getting real ads from our local newspaper, and having the students choose 5 things that have to equal a certain amount of money, that they would like on their Christmas list, giving prerequisites just as you have lined out for this problem.  I teach 3rd grade, so using real ads will draw them in quicker then just reading the problem, and at this grade level, many still want Santa to bring them certain items.  

    Thank you for this problem of the week, and I do think it would make a great performance task before Winter Break for me.  If I get a chance to create it, I will share.

    Thank you, and #Seattle has been so wonderful!  I have learned so much!​

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    Heather Yardley
    Teacher
    Vale OR
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-30-2018 15:28
      |   view attached
    I have attached an example of how I would use this in my classroom.  I would send this out to my students in Google Classroom, and have them to do the work on graph paper, then type up their responses.

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    Heather Yardley
    Teacher
    Vale OR
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    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    Winter Perf Task.pdf   115 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-30-2018 15:34
    Thank you, this is excellent!!

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    Kristin Keith
    Professional Development Manager, NCTM
    Reston, VA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 11-30-2018 15:34
    I love this idea! What a great way to incorporate real world situations into the classroom. I really love how easy this would be to alter for all grade levels just by changing a few of the variables. 

    I am loving all the great learning experiences I have had this week!! #Seattle ​​

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    Christen Reed
    3rd Grade Teacher
    Vale OR
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Holiday Shopping and Surfing (Grades 3-5)

    Posted 12-01-2018 18:53
    This is so much fun!!!! Back in the day, I used to do something similar, only I actually took my students on a field trip to the mall. I made arrangements ahead of time with 5 stores, all of whom agreed to ring up the purchases and give my students mock receipts (no money changed hands). The kids worked in groups to buy gifts for a family of 5. The team that came closest to $100 without going over "won." The had to plan ahead as there was a minimum for each family member in order to qualify ( they couldn't just buy a deck of cards for the last person because they had cut it too close). 

    And then, afterwards, each team received $25 to shop for a child on the Angel Tree at the mall.

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    Kimberly Rimbey
    Director of Curriculum & Assessment; CEO
    Phoenix AZ
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    Original Message