This problem solving activity has a number (addition and subtraction) focus.
Oh no, gremlins have been in and covered up some numbers on the chart.
Can you put the equations back together?
This problem reinforces the use of addition and subtraction equations. Students become so accustomed to seeing addition equations in the form 1 + 5 = ___ and 5 – 2 = ___, that they automatically think that the "answer" is always the sum or the difference. If the students are only exposed to the traditional format they miss the opportunity to form understandings about all parts of the equation and how each part relates to the other.
The context of this problem could be adapted to use the footprints or marks of a character from a picture book you have recently read in class.
Oh no, gremlins have been in and covered up some numbers on the chart. Can you put the equations back together?
The gremlins have covered more than one number. Find as many number combinations as you can that work
J + J = 13
6 + J = J
9, 1, 6, 6, 4
At Level 1, students have not developed knowledge of negative numbers. Therefore, there is a limited number of possibilities for ? + ? = 13. Check that the students have remembered the (0, 13) pairing.
There are an infinite number of possibilities for 6 + ? = ? As the students work on this problem they will often use a sequence of numbers and notice the patterns in it, for example:
Printed from https://nzmaths.co.nz/resource/gremlins at 12:39am on the 25th April 2024