Team Logic: Cooperative Problem-Solving for 3rd and Up

This is one way you can shake up the routine in a gifted class!

Logic problems, such as Perplexors and Math Perplexors, promote deductive reasoning. Students use information and resources to reach a conclusion, the “correct answer.”

In a previous post, I described how I set up a logic center that allowed my students to solve problems at varying levels, advancing at their own pace. It worked really well in my classroom!

However, learning to work with others reinforces many “life skills” and cooperative planning and problem-solving can be challenging for many gifted students, so I thought it was important to regularly present activities in which groups of students depend upon one another to solve problems. I decided to call it Team Logic, and I found several resources that had excellent group problem-solving scenarios.

My favorite resource to use in my gifted pull-out classes, grades 3 – 5, was Get it Together (affiliate link). For each problem in the book, there are 4 main clues and 2 bonus clues, so it works well with groups of 4-6 students. A lesson guide for each problem explains any prerequisite skills needed, the concepts being reinforced, tips about introducing the problem, and topics for discussion when the problem has been solved. After choosing the problems I wanted to use, a parent volunteer made copies of the clue cards on colored cardstock, laminated them, and placed them in labeled baggies for me which allowed me to use them for years. Over time, I was able to determine which problems worked best with each grade level.

There are dozens of problems in the book (the book description states there are over 100). Depending on the difficulty level, I often withheld the bonus clues until the group was sure they had the correct answer. Then, I would hand them the bonus clues as a way of checking their answers. If the solution didn’t work with the extra clues, it was “back to the drawing board.”

One important benefit of this type of activity is that students must be patient and listen to one another. They must work together in deciding how to go about solving the problem and all need to agree on the solution. Many key collaboration skills are reinforced that all students, but perhaps especially academically-advanced students, need to practice.

Almost any logic problem can become a Team Logic problem; just separate the clues and have students share only by speaking (not showing) the clues they hold. With younger students, you might use Crayon Logic or basic Math Perplexors as sources of problems for groups. You might also be interested in United We Solve: 116 Math Problems for Groups (Gr. 5-10) (affiliate link).

What types of group problem-solving is happening in your classroom? Please share your favorite resources in the comments so all of our subscribers can benefit from your experiences!