This problem solving activity has a number (all operations) focus.
On Monday, Sam and Sylvia share some lollies.
Sam has 2 lollies. Sylvia has 4 lollies.
Together, how many lollies do they have to share?
If Sam has 2 lollies, and Sylvia has 4 lollies on Tuesday and Wednesday too, how many lollies do they each have?
What is the total number of lollies that Sam and Sylvia share in three days?
- Solve addition problems with numbers up to 20.
- Divide numbers up to 10 into equal groupings.
Students apply addition strategies to solve this problem.
This is one of six problems: Lollies! Number, Level 1; More Lollies, Number, Level 1; Sharing More Lollies, Number, Level 2; Lollies, Lollies, Lollies, Number, Level 3; and Still More Lollies, Algebra, Level 4. At each level, these problems become more algebraically-focused.
The Problem
On Monday, Sam and Sylvia share some lollies. Sam has 2 lollies. Sylvia has 4 lollies. Together, how many lollies do they have to share?
If Sam has 2 lollies, and Sylvia has 4 lollies on Tuesday and Wednesday too, how many lollies do they each have?
What is the total number of lollies that Sam and Sylvia share in three days?
Teaching Sequence
- Discuss and model adding numbers and then sharing equally. You might act out the story using the counters as lollies.
- Read each part of the problem with the class and discuss how they will record their ideas. Draw attention to the words 'each' and 'share' and what they mean in the context of the question.
- Ask supporting questions as students work on their solutions.
- Share solutions. Have students to explain their different methods (equipment, skip counting, known facts).
Extension
If Sam and Sylvia have a different number of lollies each, but have 10 lollies altogether to share, how many might they each have?
To begin, Sam and Sylvia have a different number of lollies each, but when they share them fairly they each get 6. How many might each person have started with?
Solution
The number of lollies they share is the sum of what each got: 2 + 4 = 6. Each day, they each have half the share of the lollies (i.e. 3).
Over three days Sam got 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. Sylvia got 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. Sylvia got double Sam's number. Together they have 18 to share. This can also be seen as follows: Each day they shared 6 lollies (2 + 4). 6 lollies x 3 days = 18.
Solution to the Extension
Combinations to 10: (1,9) (2,8) (3,7) (4,6) (5,5) (6,4) (7,3) (8,2) (9,1) Sam has the first number and Sylvia the second number.
Combinations to 12: (1,11) (2,10) (3,9) (4,8) (5,7) (6,6) (7,5) (8,4) (9,3) (10,2) (11,1) Sam has the first number and Sylvia the second number.