Problem Teachers' Notes

# How Tall

### Why do this problem?

This activity is designed to create a challenge that pupils will not have been taught or leant how to do straight away. They therefore have to use their individual problem solving skills and/or initiative. It also provides an opportunity, when the different approaches have been used by different groups or individuals, for a discussion about different approaches to take place.

### Possible approach

Explain that you're not expecting them to necessarily know straight away how to do it. Encourage them to devise a way, through problem solving to find ways to find the height involved. The pupils may be ecouraged to validate their suggestions. Then a discussion can be had around the class as to the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches. They can then have a practical go at finding the height. It may happen that difficulties arise during this in which pupils have to decide what to change in order to carry on.

### Key questions

What do you think of your method?
What about what (so and so) said?
Do you see any ways of improving their method?
If you were asked to do something similar again what way do you think you would try?

### Possible extension

Similar challenges where the tall object is not so easily accessible - a tree on the other side of a fence, a lighthouse etc.

### Possible support

Pupils may need some equipment that is not readily available.