Thursday, October 2, 2014

Two Divide or Not To Divide

This week in Algebra is not your typical week.
We set aside the textbook and notes,
And brought out the map and the list of league schools.
Two challenges were set before us and the kids divided themselves into groups based on their interest to the particular challenge they chose to focus on.

Challenge #1:  If the league expands to 16 schools, how should they be divided?  Mileage needs to be the considered in all cases.

Challenge #2:  Instead of dividing the current 11 schools into two divisions, could a schedule be created that limited the miles for all schools, yet created a more of a round robin approach to scheduling games?

Challenge #1

The discussions,
      the questions,
            the approaches,
                   the failures,
                        the restarts were all amazing to watch and listen to.


The justification,
     the counter claims,
          the communication,
               the perseverance,
                     were evident as our math practices were put into real life action!



Challenge #2
The math models,
      the tools used, (paper/pencil, iPads)
            the thought processes,
                  the various methods,
                       showcased the habits that problem solvers embrace.