Marvelous Math with Mrs. Rose

Due to popular request (by students), here are some more stories with holes:

1. There are two plastic jugs filled with water.  How could you put all of this water into a barrel, without using the jugs or any dividers, and still tell which water came from which jug?
2. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?
3. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?  (or day names in any other language)

If you think you have a solution to any of these, or a question to ask about them, please leave a comment.

AND THIS JUST IN, FROM KEVIN . . .

“A burglar was holding 2 bags of gold from a robbery.  Both bags were so heavy he couldn’t lift them above his waist.  Then, he saw a security camera.  Without dropping either bag, how does he get past the camera?”

HINT:  HE DIDN’T USE A MASK!

AND HERE’S ANOTHER FROM LIZZIE:

“Sally and John were lying on the floor with blood around them.  There was a weapon on the table and a mother was nearby.”

My students are really enjoying “Stories with Holes,” which involve logic and problem-solving.  These stories are not what they seem at face value because, usually, specific words in them have a double meaning.

Here’s an example:

John was afraid to go home because the man with the mask was there.

After introducing a very short story like this, the presenter asks listeners to ask “yes” or “no” questions to help uncover the true meaning of the story.

The key with this one is to think of different meanings for the word, “home,” and if you think of it as “home base,” the story takes on a whole new meaning.  Yes, the “man with the mask” is the catcher and John is playing baseball!  He doesn’t want to go home because he doesn’t want to get tagged out!

Fun, isn’t it?

Well, some of my fourth-graders had so much fun with these logic puzzles lately, they decided to write their own.  Here’s a sampling . . . can you figure them out?  Post a comment if you think you’ve solved one of them . . . or if you have a question!

There was a guy named Bob.  He was playing a game.  He got lots of strikes.  Why was he happy?

A guy goes to a birthday party, but he locks his car and leaves his present and keys in the car.  How does he get the present without harming the car or picking the lock?

(Written by Jonathan)

Bob was at a store.  He walked around the store.  Then, he was thirsty.  Why didn’t he go in to buy a drink?

(Written by Rashad)

Jake just got knocked out by Robby.  And that was the end of his practice.

(Written by Jake, Weston, and John)

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When Mark walked into the kitchen, the ground was covered with blood and dog drool.  Mark could not eat dinner that night.

The light shown on Millie and she couldn’t move.

(Submitted by Abby)