Materials for the lesson

Four envelopes

Five coloured paper hats – for each team.

Coloured sheets with a text math problem written on them. The colours of the sheets must be the same as the hats.

Layout of the classroom

Four pairs of desks are needed in the classroom and chairs around it. The rest of desks and chairs are put aside.

Phase 1

The teacher says:

“Today we are visiting Harry Potter in Hogwarts. Students in Hogwarts have very special hats. They help them to solve text math problems quickly and correctly.

Harry Potter and his friends offer us to play a game to try out the hats. The hats are called – “The magic thinking hats”. They are in 5 different colours: white, red, blue, green and yellow.”

 Phase 2

The teacher divides the class into an equal team (in this case 4 teams per 5 children). He/she prepares as many envelopes as the teams are. The envelopes have 5 colourful folded sheets with a text math problem. The colours of the sheets correspond to the colours of the “magic thinking hats”.

Phase 3

Each team sits around on their pair of desks. There are the “magic thinking hats” and an envelope.

The teacher gives the first signal: “Abra-Cadabra.” Each student draws one sheet of the envelope. If he/she drops yellow, he will put the yellow hat, if it’s red – the red hat, and so on. The teacher gives a second signal: Sim – Salabim. The students of each team unfold the sheets. They have 7 minutes to read and solve their text math problems.

If the students are ready before the announced time, they won’t allow saying their answers. They can use the remaining time by checking each other’s text math problems in the group.

Phase 4

After the time has elapsed, the teacher announces an end. He gives the “keys” with the correct answers of each of the teams.

If there are any mistakes in the group’s responses, the students will correct them.