Dear {{custom.firstName}},

Mathematics often feels closed-ended. We believe being open-ended is more interesting and can lead to wonderful conversations.

In Toy Factory, students explore function rules written in function notation—a concept where, typically, problems have only one solution . . . until students get to this screen.

Here, students are challenged to write a function rule that will make the bow ties fit better. Your students might ask you: “What does “better” mean?” Let students lead and have them tell you what better means to them.

Better could mean the same width as the toy cat’s whiskers.  Better could also mean just enough so you can see the cat’s cute paws. Challenge students to write a function rule that represents their definition of better. Our teacher tips have some possible questions you could ask to extend their thinking, and we hope this gives you some ideas of what students might say is better to them. 

Let this open-ended screen be an opportunity for students to have creative control and share with you and their classmates what exactly better means to them.

Dan & the Desmos Classroom Team

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