Friday, April 22, 2011

Math-Literature Connection: A Quarter from the Tooth Fairy

In this book, Caren Holtzman [Hello Math Reader, Level 3] recounts in verse how a young boy spends the quarter he got from the Tooth Fairy for his tooth.   He first buys a monster for his quarter but then decides it wasn't quite right and returns it, getting 2 dimes and 1 nickel back.   Each time he buys and returns an item, he gets his 25 cents back in a different combination of coins, making this book an excellent introduction to the problem of how many different ways students can make 25 cents. 

Challenge: What other ways could the character have gotten his 25 cents in change?
Writing Extension:  Each student writes additional pages for the story that describe what the character buys and what combination of coins he gets back when he ultimately returns the item.

1 comment:

  1. I enjoy your blog! I am now a follower!

    awigginsworld.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete