May 23 on Sea Creatures

Lugworms are rarely seen but they leave these on beaches at lowtide. You have to dig them out if you are curious or if you want to use them as a bait.

What measurements are needed to find the volume of this coil structure created by the lugworm. 

May 19 on Transportation

Heathrow Express left Paddington at 0941 and arrived at the airport at 0955. Even with 13 minutes walking time to the check-in counters I was early for my 1030 checkin. What is the latest Heathrow Express I could take to be not late for my 1030 checkin? 

By 1020 I was through security screening. But it is another 15-minute walk to the gate. Boarding is at 1130. What is the latest time my Heathrow Express should leave Paddington for me to be at the boarding gate at 1130.

May 18 on Markets

How much does 4lbs of tomatoes cost?

Note to Parents | The ability to compute on paper is less important than the ability to use mental strategies such as doubling to arrive at an answer. Or the ability to tell how much change is expected if one pays £5. 

Also how many tomatoes make a pound, approximately? 

May 17 on Flights

The number of flights taking off from Sunavarbhumi Airport are as follows 0800-0859 14 flights

0900-0959 19 flights

1000-1059 19 flights

1100-1159 16 flightA

On average, how many flights depart from Sunavarbhumi Airport per hour? 

What if the data is  

0800-0859 14 flights

0900-0959 19 flights

1100-1159 19 flights

1200-1259 16 flight

Does the answer change? 

May 16 on Trains

The Heathrow Express is the best way to and from the airport. It costs £21.59 one-way except on Saturday when it costs only £10 one-way. 

You can also buy a two-way ticket. 

How much should a two-way ticket cost so that it is never more expensive to use it? 

Notes

Thinking versus computation - it is important to engage your child in conversation about how much a two-way ticket might cost. Should it be twice of £21.90 (mentally, 20p less than £44)? It is usually cheaper than that to encourage passengers to buy two-way tickets. 

The key to help your child is to have conversation and discussion. You are not helping very much by simply putting a stack of worksheets in front of the kid. 

May 10 on Signs

The ability to see basic shapes in composite shape is a fundamental ability called visualization. 

L can be seen as made up of two rectangles. How about N and K?

May 2 on Penang Street Food

The regular plate cost RM2.80 and the premium plate, fried with duck eggs, cost RM3.50. In 15 minutes, the hawker sold RM32.90. Is that possible?

Note for Parents

Students who are strong in maths have good number sense. They can reason if 2.80m + 3.50n = 32.90 is possible.

Some may reason that since 2.80 + 3.50 = 6.30, there is some chance of getting the 0.90 in 32.90. So is it possible?

Also students with good measurement sense can tell if it is reasonable to prepare 10 plates of the dish in 15 minutes is reasonable. You need knowledge of context in this case. This is also an example of linking mathematics to everyday situations.

Photo | Street Food in Penang