Challenge #3: Making Decisions

There are 60 sixth-grade students at Kalvin’s school. The students need to choose someone to wear the mascot costume on field day.

Huey: We can give everyone a number from 1 to 60. Then, we can roll 10 number cubes and add the results. The person whose number is equal to the sum wears the costume.


Sal: That doesn’t seem fair. Everyone should have a number from 0 to 59. In one bag, we can have blocks numbered 0 to 5. In another bag, we can have blocks numbered 0 to 9.We can select one block from the first bag to represent the tens digit and one block from the second bag to represent the ones digit.

1) Do you agree with Huey’s idea? Explain your reasons.

2) Do you agree with Sal’s idea? Explain your reasons.

Challenge #2: Making Decisions

The group decides to play baseball. Tony and Meda are the team captains. Now they must decide who bats first.

Tony: We can roll a number cube. If the number is a multiple of three, my team bats first. Otherwise, Meda’s team bats first.


Meda: Yes, let’s roll a number cube, but my team bats first if the number is even and Tony’s team bats first if it’s odd.

1) Do you agree that Tony’s idea is a fair way to pick which team goes first? Explain your reasons.

2) Do you agree with Meda’s idea is a fair way to pick which team goes first? Explain your reasons

Challenge #1: Making Decisions

At lunch, Kalvin and his friends discuss whether to play kickball, soccer, baseball, or dodgeball. Ethan and Ava each have a suggestion.

Ethan: We can make a spinner that looks like this:

Ava: We can roll a number cube. If it lands on 1, we play kickball. A roll of 2 means soccer, 3 means baseball, 4 means dodgeball, and we can roll again if it’s 5 or 6.

1) Do you think Ethan’s idea is a fair way to pick the game? Explain your reasons.

2) Do you think Ava’s idea is a fair way to pick the game? Explain your reasons.