Nice! This looks like a good problem - I may try it next week. What grade level did you do this with? How far did they get into the generalization?

Immediately followed up in the next room with this unsettling clock.

I look for natural opportunities like this all the time because I found with my kids that engineered situations are, let’s say, resisted. Another favorite is pausing Netflix at different points and asking them questions about the progress bar. “Oh, I wonder how much of the show is left?”

Results:

and she looked confused and said “don’t I need to know how much the all is?” I’m not even kidding. So we talked about that and she settled on 2 scoops of 1/2 and 3 of 1/4. I know it seems small but I was blown away by how much she’s picked up and internalized. #tmwyk #iteachmath

I said “wow, you just did fraction subtraction!” And she said “uh I don’t really know what that is but oh kaaaay.” And then we had to measure out 1 3/4 tsp of baking powder, and I (legitimately) couldn’t find the 1 tsp measure. I had only a 1/2 and 1/4. So I showed them to her and explained,

I guessed she’d say use the 1/4 three times, or *maybe* use the 1/2 and 1/4 once each. But she goes “can’t we fill up the whole thing and then use the 1/4 to take out a scoop?” 🤯

I did read the whole thing, but only half of GEB. 😁 I keep meaning to go back to it…

Yeah, no worries. I actually loved it as a kid too and hadn’t played it in years. I don’t even know how it came to be in our house, and so I was surprised when my daughter pulled it off a shelf and asked to play it.

Based on Math For Love's game at mathforlove.com/lesson/tax-c...

I guess it depends on how long your class period is!

Spanish 1 (well, 4 semesters actually). Took it on a whim and it was easily the most useful thing I learned in college.