Combinations

My 5th grade students created there own combination word problems.  Take a look at them on the library bulletin board!  See if you can come up with your own and leave it as a comment on my blog for 5 bonus points on your test.

On Friday, my fourth graders began a new problem solving strategy, making organized lists.  Students also created tree diagrams to figure out the number of combinations possible in a certain scenario.  For example, if I have a red shirt and a blue shirt, blue shorts, green shorts, and yellow shorts, how many outfits can be made?  We used snap cubes to solve this problem to make the actual outfits.  We then drew out a tree diagram to show the data.  Can you remember how to get the number of outfits without drawing a tree diagram, using snap cubes, or making a list?  If you were paying attention in class, you should know the answer to the previous question.  I am not going to tell you here.  Ask me tomorrow if you need a reminder.

   Be sure if you are asked on LEAP for the number of combinations that you SHOW how you got your answer by either making a tree diagram or an organized list.  Remember that you can lose points if you do not show all of your work!