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Math Riddles
Can your children solve them all?
Watch your children grow mathematically as they use conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and a growth mindset to tackle these riddles and persevere in solving them!
Oldest Son's Age
Fuel Tank
Age Relations
Piles of Shells
Jam Jars
Learning Objectives
Engage children in the creative process of solving mathematical riddles about a variety of topics.
Mathematical Background
Mathematical riddles provide different mathematical practice that a “standard” mathematical question.
First, traditional mathematical questions are typically identified with specific topics (e.g., solve a problem involving the division of fractions), whereas in riddles, it is often not evident which mathematical topics and skills are necessary in order to solve them.
Second, traditional mathematical questions are often solved in a set a known steps, whereas is students solving riddles must figure out the way to approach them.
Thirdly, many riddles offer an element of surprise - they seem complex and sometimes even unsolvable until you look at them from a different angle. But above all, mathematical riddles offer a glimpse of what doing and applying “real” mathematics looks like.
Mathematicians, scientists, and engineers solve problems in which much of the challenge is to figure out the right approach and find out which of the methods in their mathematical toolbox may be relevant. Riddles can help children practice these important mathematical standards of practice.
Pay Attention to
- Riddles are an ideal solution for stretching children who are excelling in grade level content. They offer an opportunity for advanced children to carry out deep mathematical undertaking, without amplifying even further curricular gaps within the classroom.
- Riddles often provide children who think "outside of the box" with an opportunity to shine mathematically. This builds growth mindset within the classroom.
- Riddles offer a perfect scenario for practicing many of the standards of mathematical practice, especially making sense of problems and persevering in solving them.
