Draw it out
What is a problem?
Why teach problem solving?
Strategies
Resources
Inset
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Prompt poster: PDF 
Printable versions: PDF Word 
Lots of Legs
Boris and Norris decided to have a party. They wanted to ask all their friends who lived at the end of the garden. They sent invitations to three ants, four bees and two spiders. As a result of Maurice the Moth's dive bombing, their web was rather delicate and they wanted all their friends to wear slippers.
How many slippers do they need to have?
This type of problem draws on the ability of children to draw pictures of familiar objects to help them to visualise the problem.
| Questions to ask | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Why does every one have to wear slippers? | This helps the children to identify the abstract problem and to think it through carefully. Putting the problem into context. |
| What do we need to know about ants and bees and spiders? | Focus the children's attention on the relevant attributes for solving problems. |
| How could drawing help you to solve this problem? | Focus children's attention on the use of drawing as a problem solving strategy. |
Possible extensions:
- Discuss what could be changed:
- How many pairs?
- If they had a number (i.e. 14) of slippers what animals could they invite?
- What numbers of slippers could be used?