Verbal Problem

Reasoning
Marysabel Mejia, Brittany West,
Jenna Foremski
Verbal Reasoning

Used to solve problems, plan, organize, predict, speculate and

hypothesize
Uses all of the skills previously described
Develop between the ages of 4 and 6
answer who-what-why questions, make predictions, classify
things identify similarities and differences between objects
and retell stories in sequence
Age 11: Formal Operational Stage
Math: Operations & Algebraic
Thinking

Reading: Literature
Individual session
Individual session

Introduce Quidditch rules

Use of visual aids

According to a paper called Number skills and Knowledge in Children with Specific
Language Impairment, by Cowan, R., Donlan, C., Newton, E. J., & Llyod, D.
(2005) the use of visual methods for developing knowledge of combinations
is recommended for teaching children (Askew, 1998; Thornton, 1990),
particularly those with reading or language difficulties (Chinn & Ashcroft, 1998;
Grauberg,1998; Hutt, 1986)

Introduce hands on problem solving activity

Rules of Quidditch
Set up

Played on brooms in the air

3 goal posts on either end of the field

3 different balls
1 Quaffle: a goal through any of the three opposing hoops is 10 points

2 Bludgers: used to knock opponents off their brooms

1 golden Snitch: caught by the seeker, is worth 150 points, and when caught
ends the game
Activity

Materials: paper Quidditch pitch, sticky notes, note cards with the
Quaffle and one notecard with a snitch on it

each Quaffle note card represents one goal

snitch note card represents catching the snitch

Sticky notes to label each team and/or further aid Emma by adding
the point value onto each notecard
Example problem

Gryffindor was playing slytherin at the Quidditch tournament,

Gryffindor scored 9 goals with the Quaffle and Slytherin was able
to score only 2 goals with the Quaffle. Who is currently winning?

We would break it down step by step for Emma:

1. How many points does Gryffindor have?

(9 goals with the Quaffle) x (each goal is worth 10 points)

2. How many points does Slytherin have?

(2 goals with the Quaffle) x (each goal is worth 10 points)

One more example problem

Hufflepuff is playing Ravenclaw for the Quidditch cup! Hufflepuff

was able to score 10 goals with the Quaffle, but Ravenclaws
seeker caught the snitch ending the game. Who won?

Break it down step by step for Emma:

How many points did Hufflepuff get?

How many points are 10 goals with the Quaffle

(10 goals with the Quaffle) x (10 points per goal)

How many points did Ravenclaw get?

Push In

Students will work in pairs to solve quidditch based math problems.

Question #1

Slytherin was playing Ravenclaw for the Quidditch Cup. If Slytherin

and Ravenclaw both scored 5 goals with the Quaffle, but Slytherin
captured the Snitch, who won? How many points did they win by?
Question #2

If Gryffindor was losing to Slytherin by 35 points, how many Quaffles

would they have to get in order to tie the game? To win the game?
Sources

Cowan, R., Donlan, C., Newton, E. J., & Llyod, D. (2005). Number
Skills and Knowledge in Children With Specific Language
Impairment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97(4), 732.

Paul, R., & Norbury, C. (2012). Language disorders from infancy

through adolescence: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and
communicating. Elsevier Health Sciences.