Fun With Math

Yesterday, among the papers in Julia's school folder, I found a "School-Home Connection" math sheet meant for parents.  I read through the various concepts the kids have been learning in math over the past few weeks, and read through the suggested "Family Fun" math activities to try at home.  I thought that perhaps the "What's My Number?" game would be fun, and decided to give it a whirl on our walk home from school this afternoon.  The basic instructions, as listed on the math sheet, are as follows:

"Work with your child to identify a mystery number.  One player thinks of a number from 0 to 10.  The other player asks yes/no questions to discover the mystery number.  Here are some sample questions.  'Is the number less than 5?'  'Is the number greater than 2?'  'Is the number 4?'  Try to find the mystery number with the fewest questions."

So, I proposed this game to the kids as we were walking home, and announced that I had a number selected in my head and that I was ready for them to begin asking questions.  And man, did the kids hit the ball out of the park.

Round 1

JULIA: Okay.  Um...does it have CORNERS?
ME: Uh, no.
JULIA: Is it shaped like...
ME: Well, try to ask less about the shape of the number, and more about the number itself, like as a math number.
JULIA: Okay.  Is it bigger than EIGHT?
ME: No.
JULIA: Can you count by twos to get to it?
ME: Yes.
JULIA: Is it bigger than four?
ME: Yes.
JULIA: Is it...FIVE?
ME: Can you count by twos to get to five??
JULIA: Uh...no.
ME: So it can't be five, right?
JULIA: Is it six?
ME: Yes!
JULIA: Mommy.  *I'm* six!

Round 2

JULIA: Okay, I'm ready!
ME: Is it an odd number?
JULIA: No.
ME: Is it less than five?
JULIA: Yes.
ME: Is it less than three?
JULIA: Yes.
ME: Is it two?
JULIA: Yes!
MADELEINE: But Maaaaama!  I didn't get to ask a question!
ME: Okay.  Ask one.
MADELEINE: Uh, is it smaller than ten?
ME: Julia?
JULIA: (galloping with a faraway look in her eyes)
ME: Julia, is it smaller than ten?
JULIA: Mommy, you already GUESSED it!
ME: I know.  But Madeleine wants a turn to ask a question.
JULIA: It's smaller than ten.
MADELEINE: Is it TWO?
JULIA: (rolling her eyes) Yessssss.


Round 3

ME: Okay, Madeleine, your turn.  Think of a number and then tell me when you're ready.
MADELEINE: Okay.  TWO!
ME: Shh.  Don't tell us the number.  We have to try and guess it.
MADELEINE: But I want it to be two.
ME: Okay, but now we know that, so you need to pick a new number and NOT tell us.
MADELEINE: But please, Mama?  Can it be two?
ME: Uh, okay, fine.
MADELEINE: Okay.
ME: Is it bigger than six?
MADELEINE: Nope!
ME: Is it smaller than three?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it bigger than one?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it two?
MADELEINE: (delighted) YES!


Round 4

ME: Okay, I'm ready.
MADELEINE: Mama!  I want to ask a question!
ME: Okay.  Go ahead
MADELEINE: Um...is it EIGHT?
ME: Well, don't make a guess yet.  Ask me a question.
MADELEINE: Is it like the shape of a six?
ME: It's not like the shape of a six.  Julia, your turn to ask a question.
JULIA: Pass.
ME: Julia.  This is a math exercise that YOUR teacher suggested we do at home.  YOU are the important person here.  YOU need to be playing the game.
JULIA: Fine.  Is it less than ten?
ME: Yes.
JULIA: Is it more than one?
ME: Yes.
JULIA: Is it nine?

It was, in fact, nine, but I wasn't happy with her lackadaisical attempt at figuring out the number.  Given that the number must be BETWEEN one and ten, the chances are *pretty* high that the number is both more than one and less than ten.  Unless it is either one or ten, the number is gonna fall within that range.


Round 5

JULIA: I'm ready.
ME: Is it an odd number?
JULIA: Um...I forget what odd numbers are.
ME: If it's an odd number, it means you can't count to it by twos.
JULIA: Um...uh...YES.
ME: Okay.  Is it bigger than five?
JULIA: Yes.
ME: Is it less than nine?
JULIA: Yes.
ME: Is it seven?
JULIA: Nope.
ME: Um.  I thought it was an odd number.
JULIA: (shrugging) I don't know.
ME: Is it six?
JULIA: Yes!
ME: Okay.  That's not an odd number.  Can you get to six if you start at zero and count by twos?
JULIA: Yes.
ME: Okay.  So it's not an odd number.
JULIA: Oh.


Round 6

ME: Okay, Madeleine, it's your turn to think of a number, but just think it inside your head.  Don't tell us this time.
MADELEINE: Okay!
ME: Are you ready?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it bigger than five?
MADELEINE: No.
ME: Is it smaller than four?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it smaller than three?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: (groaning inwardly) Is it bigger than one?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it two?
MADELEINE: (delighted) YES!

Madeleine then proceeded to "think" of two for her next two turns, and then when she had another, the exchange went something like this.

MADELEINE: Okay!  I'm ready!
ME: Is it two?
MADELEINE: Mama!  Stop!  Don't SAY it.  Ask a QUESTION!
ME: Is it smaller than three?
MADELEINE: Yes.
ME: Is it two?
MADELEINE: Stop saying TWO Mama!
ME: Okay.  Is it bigger than one?
MADELEINE: Yes!
ME: Is it two?
MADELEINE: Mama!  Stop SAYING two!  Don't just keep SAYING two!
ME: Honey, that's my guess.  Is it two?
MADELEINE: No, stop SAYING two!  You have to ask questions!

Big, long sigh.

So, what do you all think?  I think the math lesson was a smashing success, don't you?  I mean, could these kids be more naturally gifted in math or what?!?