Problem Teachers' Notes Hint Solution

# The Games' Medals

### Why do this problem?

This activity can be approached practically with young pupils and it could be used as a starter for class/group discussions. Some children will acquire new mathematical concepts and vocabulary whilst others will find it helps them to develop skills connected with solving numerical problems.

### Possible approach

After telling the story (or your own version appropriate to the children and the classroom context) model the activity with three pupils involved and use the session purely as a discussion in which the children do not necessarily need to do any recording.

### Key questions

What other ways of ordering can there be?

Do you have any other ideas?
Is that all the possible ways?

### Possible extension

Some might like to think about what if there is a "draw" for one of the medals.

Some might like to think up a fourth medal - what it could be made of - and four or five pupils being involved.