Title of Book: One Riddle, One Answer
Author: Lauren Thompson
Publisher: Scholastic Press; New York
ISBN: 0-590-31335-5
Grade Levels for Recommended Use: 3rd-6th
TEKS :
5th grade: (b) Knowledge and skills
(14) Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student applies
Grade 5 mathematics to solve problems connected to everyday experiences and
activities in and outside of school. The student is expected to:
(B) solve problems that incorporate understanding the problem,
making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution
for reasonableness;
(16) Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student uses
logical reasoning. The student is expected to:
(B) justify why an answer is reasonable and explain the solution
process.
Brief Summary: Aziza, the only daughter of the sultan, loves numbers and riddles.
When the time comes for her to marry, she devises a difficult riddle to sort through
her suitors. Only the man who answers correctly can be her husband.
Materials needed: Pencil, Paper
Suggested Activity:

Teacher will begin by asking the class if they’ve ever heard any riddles and
allowing them to share a few they may know. Teacher will share some if the
class doesn’t know any.

Teacher will read the story to students. Teacher should discuss each answer
from the suitors and have the students figure out why each answer is
incorrect.

Before reading the real answer, the teacher will have the students write their
guess on a piece of paper and hold it up.

After revealing the answer, but before revealing the reasoning, the teacher
and students should discuss why “1” works as the answer and figure out if
there are other answers.

After finishing the book, the teacher will let students draw a random number
from a hat.

Using the numbers they have drawn, the students will write their own
riddles and see if the class can guess the correct answer. On the backs of their
papers, students will put the answer and explain how the number applies to
the riddle. Teacher can determine how long the riddles must be; however,
they should not be longer than four sentences

Students can then create artistic pages to go with their riddles to be collected
into a book to challenge next year’s class or to be used when students finish
work early.
References and or websites:
http://www.mathsolutions.com/documents/0-941355-68-3_L2.pdf
Adapted by RaMina Mirmortazavi, 2012