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4th Grade December Math Adventure- The Case of the Phony Pilot
The History Hacker is claiming to be the first pilot to have ever flown around the whole world, but the Learning League knows it's not true! In order to uncover the real pilot who earned that title, they'll have to dig into history. It’s up to you and the League to solve the clues by solving math problems and narrow down who the true pilot is. This Math Adventure will keep your classroom explorers engaged and working hard on math skills, while learning some social studies!
Also available for 3rd and 5th grade.
WHO is this mystery for?
Students on the 4th grade level who are practicing these math skills:
Divide 3 Digit by 1 Digit
Complex Angles and Fraction of an Arc
Area and Perimeter Word Problems
Make Like Fractions
Decimals from Fractions (tenths)
Teachers looking for a quick-prep, rigorous but differentiated, interdisciplinary activity that showcases topics that are often ignored or unexplored within social studies and science curriculum.
WHAT is included?
This adventure is an hour-long activity that can be completed in 3 Tracks:
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on Google Slides, which they can access with a QR code or link on a computer, tablet, or phone.
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on printed task cards.
Students read the mystery in one browser window of Google Slides, and they solve the clues by toggling between another browser window of Google Slides to answer questions. This method works great for laptops, but is not recommended for tablets.
No matter which track you take, the core of the activity is the same. Students always have access to the mystery story, 39 math problems, 5 Social Studies Exploration posters, a Writing Challenge, and an integral poster about:
Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Chuck Yeager, Wright Brothers & Wiley Post
Students will walk away from this lesson knowing these social studies concepts:
- Each pilot's brave journey and accomplishments
- The history of when humans flew for the first time after years of failure
- How planes were designed for flight with technology modeled after birds
- and more!!
WHEN is it designed to be completed?
These skills are best practiced in the middle of the year, and December 17 happens to be Wright Brothers Day!!
WHERE can students solve this mystery?
Students can complete this activity in your classroom with pen and paper or technology, and even from home, thanks to the Digital Track!
HOW can this activity be differentiated?
Using either of these methods, you can scaffold these activities to meet each of your students, exactly where they’re at.
CUSTOMIZATION: great for students above and below grade level
Each math problem can be edited to whatever you please! Hypothetically, you could buy this mystery for the framework it provides, and change every single question.
AUDIO SUPPORTS: great for multilingual students
For the tracks including technology, your students have access to a read-aloud of not just the story, but each word written on Google Slides.
WHY should your students adventure with the Learning League?
Low teacher prep/High student engagement
Anti-racist curriculum that uplifts women and Black and Indigenous people of color
Three activity tracks with DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION
Audio scaffolding and editable problems
TRY OUT A MYSTERY FOR FREE!
Download The Oil Spill Mystery for math and The Case of the Absent Abolitionist for reading.
Adventure also available on TeachersPayTeachers!