Stumbling Upon a Math Mystery
Tuesday I brought in for the kids a box of math flashcards that instead of using mathematical symbols (+, -, x, %, =) used colored boxes. Telling them that I had just stumbled upon the box, I left it for them to see if they could figure it out.
The girls were impressive in both their rudimentary grasp of what the cards were, their curiosity, and their approach to problem solving. One of our girls, who is neither a hard worker or apparently very smart, was immediately on to what was going on.
Thanks to Jonah Lehrer I was introducing the act of discovery into the classroom. It immediately sparked their curiosity. It was an amazing feeling to watch them. They were hungry and willing to try. They seemed almost unselfconscious.
Unfortunately, they were quick to frustrate. Girls who enthusiastically raised their hands and began suggesting ideas that were spot on, also quickly said never mind when even slightly interrupted by a classmate. It took a lot of encouragement to keep them on task.
They also became very competitive. Feelings were hurt left and right. In the end they mostly 'got it.' But not quite. It seemed like what they understood was that if there was blue on the card it was addition. Not that the colored boxes are interchangeable with the math symbols. (although you know every one of them was bragging about how they cracked the code first.)
The exercise wasn't a home run on its face. But it was telling to see their curiosity. The frustration is something to work on. Today I am going to bring in new cards with animals instead of colored boxes. I am going to have them come up with a team leader and let them know it has to be solved as a team. There will also be a prize. The test is that each girl has to teach me how to make a card myself.
Goal for today : Get to the 'Aha' moment + Learn the value of inclusive team work.
We will see.