Some students in 2nd, 4th & 5th grade are working on Fermi Math problems during WIN time.
So what is Fermi Math all about? What makes it Fermi?
A Fermi question is posed with limited information given.
- How many water balloons would it take fill grandma's bathtub?
- How many rubber duckies will fill the trunk of a VW Beetle?
- How much fabric would it take to make jeans for Paul Bunyan?
- How many eggs would fit in the Trojan Horse's body?
A Fermi question requires that students ask many more questions.
- What are the approximate dimensions of the bathtub?
- What kind of duckies? Babies? Ernie's? Mallard?...
- Do you want those jeans with or without five pockets?
- What kind of eggs? Dinosaur eggs? Wren eggs? Duck eggs?... The list goes on.
A Fermi question emphasizes process rather than the answer.
- A Fermi question demands communication and writing.
- A Fermi question utilizes estimation, rounding numbers and guess
How does Fermi work?
- After reading about the challenge, students estimate an answer to the problem.
Next, students generate a list of 10 questions (at least) about the problem.
Then, they decide which questions are important to solve the problem.
They figure out how to answer those questions to come to a conclusion. - Finally, they prepare a poster to explain their process.
How does the competition work?
- Hall students are not participating in the international competition this year.
- Their teachers and peers are evaluating their work in class.
Where can I see the problems on which my child is working?
- Click the word "Fermi" in the list of labels on the sidebar --->
For more information about Fermi Math click here
No comments:
Post a Comment