Before I even mentioned what a system of equation was to my students I posed the following riddles to them:
Nineteen coins are
what’s in this cup.
Better believe me
‘cause that’s what’s up.
There’s no peeking
or you’ll never learn.
Wait ‘til the end
when it’s your turn.
A dollar thirty is
the total inside.
That’s the truth,
I’ve never lied.
So how many nickels
and how many dimes?
Figure it out. I’ve got no more rhymes.
Or how about this one?
Quarters and
nickels, a total of sixteen.
How many of each,
without being seen?
The value of
two-twenty is right in this cup.
You will find the
answer, a certain cheer up.
Make a table, a
graph, an equation will do.
Give it a try and
learn something new.
It’s a challenge I
know, but don’t give up hope.
The answer is
obtainable and within your scope.
I like this one...
In this cup are
seventeen quarters and half-dollars.
Finding the solution
will produce some hollas!
The question is how
many of each coin inside,
That the creative
instructor has so graciously supplied.
Five dollars fifty
cents doesn’t buy much these days,
But in this cup is
where that total lays.
Don’t look inside,
that is called cheating
It’s with your
intelligence that you are competing
And the last one...
It’s a mystery
what’s inside this container.
But you won’t look,
you’re not a complainer.
Seventeen coins, that
is a hint from me to you.
Quarters and dimes,
some old and some new.
The total inside is
3.35.
Get busy on this
problem, come on look alive.
You are smarter than
you think, you’ve got the knowledge
To solve problems like this and then go to college
I never claimed that I was a poet...
What I found when doing this lesson what that they were truly interested in the answer. All the students were engaged, and what was most amazing to me what how the 'lowest' students were able to participate equally with the 'highest' students. The look of pride on them was totally worth it.
I set up 4 different stations around the room for students to work on. One cup and one riddle. Once the students believed they had an answer, they were allowed to open the cup to have a look-see.
Here is all the information so you can give this a try too!!
I love this idea! We're just getting ready to start systems of equations in Algebra 1 tomorrow. I can't wait to try this out with my students later on in the unit. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love the mystery money idea too. I did this with a system of three equations but I used candy, however, our school is getting really strict on any food, so maybe I will switch to money next year. I will need to start saving up :)
ReplyDeleteSinging nice way for teaching kids. They can even learn Equations by applying this rhymes. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe mystery idea is perfect, I saw some good math riddles, maybe can try one of these out for students: Toss A Coin
ReplyDeleteHello! I loved your idea and your riddles, but I'm pretty sure that two of the solutions are incorrect. For the second cup, I believe the numbers should be switched - 9 nickels and 7 quarters. For the third cup, I got 12 quarters and 5 half dollars - the original solution didn't add up to 17! Thanks again for the good idea, but you might want to update the PDF.
ReplyDelete