This problem introduces repeated doubling in the context of a plant with branches that split into 2 more branches every week. The problem lays the foundation for understanding exponential growth and lends itself to a variety of representations. The Teachers' Notes page offers rationale, suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, and ideas for extension and support.

This problem introduces children to algebra by looking for a pattern and generalizing with a rule. Students explore in how many different ways can a stick of 6, 7 or 8 different colored interlocking cubes be broken into two parts. The Teachers' Notes page offers rationale, suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, and an idea for support and extension.

Open Middle tasks provide opportunities for student to approach a mathematical task using different strategies and representations. They can be used as a warm-up/closing activity, as a formative assessment, or to facilitate discourse and discussion and get insite into student thinking and problem solving. These tasks provide a great opportunity for student to engage with the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

Open Middle tasks provide opportunities for student to approach a mathematical task using different strategies and representations. They can be used as a warm-up/closing activity, as a formative assessment, or to facilitate discourse and discussion and get insite into student thinking and problem solving. These tasks provide a great opportunity for student to engage with the Standards for Mathematical Practice.