Real Messy Maths

Real messy mathsFantasy, Feasible or Fun?

IntroductionReal maths is messy. There could possibly be shredded pieces of paper, notes jotted down quickly, drawings, and MISTAKES everywhere!

Here is a suggested reflection sheet that your students could use to pull all of their learning together. Google spreadsheet based on this sheet.

Real messy maths questions are deliberately ambiguous (for more info see Dan Meyer). They focus on Maths as opposed to calculation (for more info see Conrad Wolfram) and deliberately entice problem finding as opposed to solving (for more info see Ewan McIntosh's divergent thinking)

Answers will vary depending on the student's circumstances (eg family size, school size, property etc).

Introduction (Cont)We envisage that this will be used in a classroom maths programme. Students will be doing REAL MESSY MATHS while the teacher holds 'Just In Time' workshops that the students can opt in to.

At the beginning of each session a whole class problem solving activity could take place followed by a short basic facts quiz.

Our students will do REAL MESSY MATHS in a large scrap book and must complete a reflection sheet before moving on to their next activity. These reflection sheets should inform the information you need for the workshops.

Students can investigate any problem they like. For those in classrooms without many digital devices stick 'em on the walls and/or laminate them. Students should also be encouraged to create their own REAL MESSY MATHS problems.

Feedback welcome:@taratj - Tara TJ @ Pukerua Bay School@dragonsinger57 - Jo Fothergill @ Raumati Beach School

Master Chefs

Feed your family a healthy delicious dinner for under $20

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Milk in Schools

Fonterra is providing milk in schools for all schools with Year 1-6 students. How much milk would that be each day? How long would it take for your school to drink the equivalent of an olympic sized swimming pool?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Milk in Schools

Fonterra is providing milk in schools for all schools with Year 1-6 students. How many cows will be needed?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Dance PartyHow much will it cost to buy the clothes you need to be the life of the party?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Production costumesPart 1 - You are in charge of getting the costumes for your class for the the school production. How much will it cost to buy the clothes you need?

Part 2 - How much would it cost each person? What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

School TripOrganise all aspects of a School Trip

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Car boot sale

Design and organise a money making stall for the Car boot sale.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Milk in schools 7-8s? Milk in schools is for year 1-6s. How much would it cost to include year 7-8s?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Sports CoachDesign and price out the cost of a uniform for your sports team.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Buying new learning gear for our classWe have $10,000 to spend on turning our class into a MLE (Modern Learning Environment). What can we get to do this?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

PonyHow much would it cost to buy, feed and shelter a pony?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Calorie countingHow many calories are there in your lunch today?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Texting and DrivingHow far would have you travelled in the time it takes to text LOL to your friend?

●What about if you were walking, or biking or skateboarding?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

DJHow much would it cost to buy (and list which songs would you play) if you were DJing at a 3 hour party?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Going for a runHow many m/km are you running when you run around the whole school?

What questions do you need to ask?

What will you need to use to solve this problem

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Make-overHow much would it cost to get a makeover and what products would you need to purchase to maintain your new look?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Homemade McDonaldsCan you make a Big Mac for cheaper than you would buy it from McDonald's?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Nude FoodCan you make a nude food lunch that is cheaper than a lunch that has wrappers? What would be inside them?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

AnimationHow many frames are there in 2 minutes of your favourite animated movie?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Mona LisaWhat art supplies would you have to order to re-create this image.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Library Bargain ShoppingWhat would be the cheapest way to purchase your 6 favourite books for the school library?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Library Follow up1. View your partner’s shared popplet/resource.2. Your challenge is to search and find the books at a

cheaper price and also how much they would be from a “Bricks and Mortar” retailer like http://www.whitcoulls.co.nz

3. If you find a cheaper price document it on their popplet/resource (maybe use another coloured popplet)

Next steps4. How much is it costing to send these books to you?

(How is this possible?)5. How much would it cost you to send these books to

America? (check online for postage/courier, measure weight/size of individual books and average these out)

6. Show your working out (eg sketch book sizes etc)

Our SchoolHow much money does your school get to spend? What do they spend it on? Could it be spent in better ways?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

SpeedPeople say you shouldn't speed in your car. What would happen if we increased the speed limit to 110km per hour.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

The birthday partyOrganise your birthday party for under $200

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Meteor MathsHow fast is the meteor going? Could you design a weapon to stop it?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Flushed!There's a lot of time spent going to the bathroom each day. How much water is flushed away at school everyday? How much does it cost? Could money be saved and if so how much?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Sandwiches!You need to make Sandwiches for your year level. How cheaply could you do this?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Holiday TimeYou have $2500 to spend - Plan a holiday for you and your family.

Where would you go? Where would you stay? How long can you stay? What would you do?

How far can you go?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Holiday Time 2You have an unlimited budget - Plan a holiday taking only one return plane trip for you and your family.

How much does it cost? What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Class MakeoverYou have a budget of $100/$200/$500/x - what resources and/or equipment could you buy to improve your learning?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Class Makeover 2What tools, equipment, and/or resources do you want/need to make a bigger difference to your learning? Create a budget.How can you raise this money?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

PizzaYou need to buy pizza for the whole class.

How many pizzas would you need to buy for each person to have 4 slices each?

How much will they cost altogether?What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Cricket Dream-TeamWho is in your cricket dream team? Use (historical) statistics to work out the best team.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Build a HouseYou have section of land, and a budget of $100,000 to build a house.

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Make a BusinessYou are going to set up a new business. What will your company do, and what are the costs involved? How will you ‘balance the books’?

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

NZ fuel consumptionFind out the fuel consumption (litres to kilometres) of five popular cars in New Zealand. Which would cost you the most to travel from Wellington to Waitangi? Which would cost the least? How much petrol would one of these cars go through in one year with average use? What would be the cost of that petrol? (question partly designed by a Year 6 student)

What questions do you need to ask?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)

Is this Feasible, Fantasy, or Fun?

Classroom Makeover #2You have been given the job of buying new electronic equipment for the classroom. Eg, T.v, Ipads, Computers.

You need to shop around the different shops to look for the best price.

How much will your equipment cost altogether?

What questions do you need to ask?

What shops can you need to look at online?

Where will you find the information you need? (Think online and offline resources)