Robert Kaplinsky at robertkaplinsky.com shared this lesson idea with Yummymath.
With plenty of days off from school coming up you plan to spend a day at the movie theater. You want to see as many movies as possible.
Create a schedule that shows the most movies you could see in one day.
In Robert's activity, students are asked to analyze a situation, consider contributing factors, and present a logical solution. There will be many correct "answers" to this exercise. The goal of the activity is more about engaging students in problem solving (CCSS.Math.Practice.MP3 - Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others) than on finding the most tightly arranged schedule.
Teacher-notes-Kaplinsky.pdf Student-activity-Option-1.pdf Student-activity-Option-2.pdf
CCSS: MP-3 , 3.MD.1 , 4.MD.2