007 Math Detectives

Hello students!
You will now become math detectives.  You will be hired to find the missing answers to different problems.  Once you have received your assignments please remember this is a top secret mission!!!! Read on to receive your first assignment.


The Task

The objectives of this mission is to read six different stories.  This mission will allow you to solve word problems. The assignments are found in the Resource area.  When you read each assignment you must click the left side of the mouse on the highlighted area.  Once you have completed each assignment you will return to this page by clicking on the back arrow at the top of the menu bar.

Resources

Top secret assignment I
This is your first mission!  Read the assignment carefully and answer the questions at the end.  Once you have completed this mission, you must return to this page for your next assignment.

Top secret assignment II
This is your second top secret mission.  You must read Aunt Mathilda's letter.  There is a complicated problem that you must solve.  Once you have completed this assignment, please return to this page for your next mission.

Top secret assignment III
This is your third mission.  You must read another Aunt Mathilda letter.  This time she has baked some cookies.  Your assignment is to find out how many cookies did she bake?  Once you have completed this task, please return for your next assignment.

Top secret assignment IV
Your fourth mission is about Halloween!  Read the story and answer the questions.  Read carefully, this one's a "tricky" one!  Please return to this page for your fifth assignment.

Top secret assignment V
You've done a great job so far!  Your fifth mission is about Thanksgiving.  Can you figure out who belongs in which families?  Read carefully!  When you're finished, return to this page for your next assignment!

Top secret assignment VI
You have made it this far....Let's go on to the next mission.  Christmas is fast approaching and we are all thinking how to save money for presents.  Read the next mission very carefully.  Once you have successfully completed this mission, return to this page for your last and final assignment.

Final Assignment
This is your last and final assignment.  Once you have completed this assignment 007, you may retire to the learning center of your choice and play whatever game you choose.  You deserved a long awaited break. The final mystery deals with Beanie Babies.  You will need to discover how many Beanie Babies does Danny and Gina have.  Good Luck!!!!


The Process


Learning Advice

As you know, good detectives always have good informants.  Informants are people or things that provide information.  I am going to be your informant.  My tip is to remember the four steps to problem solving.

Step 1:  Understand the problem. (Do I know what the problem is asking me to do?)
Step 2:  Plan.  (What is the best way to carry out the problem?  Do I need to use graphs or
             pictures?)
Step 3:  Carry Out.  (Did I get the right answer?  Does it look right?)
Step 4:  Look Back.  (Was there another way I could have solved the problem?)


Conclusion

By the end of your assignments you will be able to solve math word problems using the 4 step plan.  You will also be a "Math Detective!"  Stay tuned 007 for your next assignment............


This page written by Kiasi Bobo and Peggy Noble. Last updated December 2, 1998.