Log in Certificates Assistance Activate a book Digital Offer CATALOG APPOINTMENTS RECOVERY POST-ADOPTION MAGAZINE FIND YOUR AGENCY MAGAZINE Primary Civics Maths Primary news Choose the best solution! From environmental problems to mathematical problems: a didactic proposal by Simona Fiorentino PRIMARY 12 - NOVEMBER Share PRIMARY NEWS Download the article in PDF There are personal problems and others that concern the community, problems that have no solution and others that have more than one, problems that are simple to solve and others that are more complex. Climate change is a problem that affects everyone, to be tackled urgently with multiple coordinated actions at international level: the " fight against climate change " was, in fact, included among the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . And what can we do if the Earth's average temperature is rising, glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising with disastrous consequences for the environment? The measures that states can include in their national policies do not exclude the small contribution that each of us can make by making sustainable choices. In everyday life we can often opt for the one with the least environmental impact, among the various possible actions to achieve a goal. It is about identifying the best solution for the environment and our future. In these daily decision-making questions it is possible to trace a type of mathematical problem little known by students: optimization problems . In fact, at school, almost exclusively research problems are proposed in which one is asked to exhibit a solution. Few times children try their hand at solving enumeration problems by identifying all possible solutions. In optimization problems it is not required to present any solution or the list of possible solutions, but to identify, among these, the best one with respect to a criterion defined by the problem itself (Liverani M., What is the problem , Milan, Mimesis , 2005). Perché proporre quest’ultimo tipo di problemi a scuola? Cimentarsi nella risoluzione di problemi di varia natura allontana i bambini dall’elaborazione di un concetto riduttivo di problema matematico. I bambini sono spronati ad approfondire la conoscenza della questione analizzandola da più punti di vista al fine di individuare soluzioni alternative. La necessità di confrontare tutte le soluzioni possibili fa emergere l’utilità di una ricerca sistematica che offre loro la certezza di aver vagliato ogni possibile percorso risolutivo. Nell’identificazione della soluzione ottimale, i bambini imparano a mettere a confronto diverse opzioni e ad effettuare scelte oculate in base all’obiettivo da minimizzare o massimizzare. Inoltre, in queste sfide i bambini mettono in campo le loro conoscenze e consolidano abilità matematiche, oltre a sviluppare la capacità di problem solving, utile per la formazione di un futuro cittadino consapevole in grado di operare scelte ottimali. Ai bambini della scuola primaria non possiamo proporre situazioni complesse tipiche della realtà quotidiana ma possiamo chiedere loro di trovare la soluzione migliore in diverse situazioni, più semplici, che riguardano, ad esempio, numeri, figure da comporre, distanze da percorrere, acquisti da fare. Nella proposta didattica allegata i bambini dovranno compiere la scelta migliore, that is, the one that allows you to use the greatest number of ice blocks avoiding their melting. Those to be excluded are, in fact, destined to dissolve. Each block of ice contains a number (within 10, within 100 or decimal) and the goal is to obtain a sum (10, 100 or 1) using as many addends as possible, among those available. Children will be able to search for all possible combinations by cutting and manipulating the different hexagons. When they have identified the optimal solution, they will have to glue them together to form an ice pack. Ready to fight against the melting of glaciers? MATERIALS Download the card Index Materials RELATED ARTICLES MAGAZINE A revolutionary didactic by Eva Pigliapoco and Ivan Sciapeconi PRIMARY 12 - NOVEMBER MAGAZINE Educazione Civica: “Un passo alla volta, faccio la differenza!” Riflettere insieme per lottare contro il cambiamento climatico. di Giuditta e Ginevra Gottardi PRIMARIA 12 - NOVEMBRE RIVISTA Il gioco degli scacchi: uno sport per la mente Imparare a giocare per affinare le competenze logico-matematiche e potenziare il controllo emozionale di Giuditta e Ginevra Gottardi PRIMARIA 10 - LUGLIO RIVISTA 1,2,3… si gioca! di Eva Pigliapoco e Ivan Sciapeconi PRIMARIA 10 - LUGLIO INFO Who we are Our Brands HUB School Tailor-made training Mondadori Group CONTACTS Assistance Commercial network Distribution network SOCIAL Facebook YouTube Instagram Spotify The Sorridoimparo community GENERAL TERMS Governance General Terms and Conditions Privacy disclaimer Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Copyright 2021 Rizzoli Education SpA - VAT number 05877160159