My mother once taught in a small country three-room schoolhouse, where students of different age levels often had to study the same course together. For the course in American History, the kids in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades were combined into one class. This means that their ages were between 10 and 14. If [...]
In Mother Goose City, the most elegant restaurant where the elite meet to eat is the Rub-a-dub-dub Restaurant. It is owned and operated by those three wild and crazy guys: the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker. (Perhaps you will recall, they often traveled by tub!) When they decided to become partners in this [...]
We’re buying carrots, and we’ve found two sellers who have vegetables we like. The first will sell us four pounds and six ounces for a price of two pounds seven shillings and three pence. The second grower had a bigger crop. He asks for four pounds thirteen shillings and ten pence, and in return will [...]
One fine fall day, Fred, the famous football player, decided to do a little math activity with his favorite sport. So he put his ball down on one of the goal lines of the 100-yard field. He then moved it forward half the distance — that is, 50 yards — toward the other goal line. [...]
“What’s it worth?” is a common question in the business world to be sure. But what about a math classroom? The question of “What is the value of CAT or DOG?” certainly sounds intriguing to me and to elementary students I have taught. The idea becomes obvious if we give each letter its own value [...]