Three Act Tasks have TAKEN OFF on our campus! It’s so great to see and hear all of the real-life problem solving our kids are doing and how much fun they are having doing it!
Here is the checklist, in case you would like a refresher:
Three Act Tasks
Thinking about math in a real-world task (in an engaging way)
Act One:
The class discusses a high interest video or picture of a real-world situation.
What did you notice? What are you wondering?
Act Two:
The class identifies the information needed to answer a mathematical question about the situation.
What's the problem we want to solve? What information do we need to be able to solve?
Partners work together to solve
Act Three:
The problem is resolved and students share solution strategies.
Here are a couple of things we have learned:
Framing your 3 Act Task is important to keep the kids thinking about Math!
- You can even frame all 3 acts
- Example:
- Act 1-We will notice and wonder, focusing on the MATH in a picture/video.
- Act 2- We will think of a MATH question to solve that goes with the picture/video. We will decide what information we need to solve the MATH problem
- Act 3-I will pick a MATH tool/strategy to solve and be ready to share my thinking
Let the kids decide where it goes! If we can keep them in a Math mindset and then allow them to generate the questions, as well as what information is needed, this is SUCH a high level of embedding those process standards!
Challenges are good, but take time! It is best to let the kids take over and struggle through figuring it out! It’s a great time to FACILITATE and just ASK GOOD QUESTIONS! Be prepared that this type of learning structure requires lots of thinking/collaboration time! Of course it depends on the level of question, but you may want to plan more time than you think you need!
Differentiation is built in! When partners/groups finish solving their problem, all you have to do is say...is there another problem you could solve with this information?
