So, just how much pasta could I cook in an Olympic-sized pool?
Differentiation TechniqueFuzzy Problems
Read The OverviewFuzzy Problems
Fuzzy Problems are, quite simply, the types of problems we face in our regular lives. Issues that have no best answer and no single path to a solution. Problems that are missing information and require best guesses. They're the kinds of problems we want our students to grapple with.
Specific Examples of “Fuzzy Problems”
The Marshmallow Challenge
A fantastic fuzzy problem to start the year. Students use pasta and tape to try to get a marshmallow up as high as possible.
The Coloring Problem
How few colors can you use to fill in a map so that no neighboring regions are the same color?
Which One is Not Like The Others?
When we ask kids “which one is not like the others”, our cleverest students love to find ways to pick the non-obvious answer. So why not use this as a framework for pushing students deeper into our content.
Synonym Graphs
Use a two-dimensional scatter plot to dig into the nuances of several synonyms.
Creating Seemingly Unrelated Analogies
Want to encourage students to find unexpected connections across content? Here’s a quick framework based on the most important terms from both bits of content.
Word Pyramids – A Delightful Vocabulary Puzzle
A fun, abstract vocab puzzle in which students can add one letter per line, forming a pyramid of words.
Phrases to Open Up a Discussion (Lunar Survival Skills Part 2)
One of my favorite open-ended, creative activities becomes even better with careful phrasing on my part. These three questions will help you be the facilitator of a discussion, rather than the authority.
What Could You Do With This Pancake Flipping Robot?
I love videos of robots messing up tasks. This one in particular struck a chord, because we get to see the robot learn from his mistakes. Let’s have students write him some advice…
Academic Love Letters
We’re going to take the Academic Valentine idea from earlier, and extend it into a full blown love letter – just in time for Valentine’s Day!