Preparation
As explained in our case study, the mathematical problem should:
- explore and develop mathematical ideas through reason, using strategies or trial-and-error cycles rather than algorithms.
- refer to situations familiar to the child. Situations need not necessarily be real from an adult’s standpoint: stories, TV shows, and cartoon series are also acceptable.
- motivate the child to seek a solution. That may be furthered with different representations (verbal, physical and graphic), requiring the child to handle, transform or modify materials.
- afford different levels of solutions, which must consist of more than short answers.
- be transferable to other situations to enable children to generalise.
- be understandable for all children, who must be convinced they can solve it and know when they have found the solution.
- The children solve the problem before they start filming.
The children solve the problem before they start filming.