3-Act plays
A 3-act play is a whole-group mathematics task consisting of three distinct parts: Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3 (3 Act Tasks, n.d.). In Act 1, the teacher will show the students a picture, video, or other situation, and the students are to develop their own questions about what is shown. Then, the students will decide on a question they want to explore. In Act 2, the teacher provides information that the students ask for and feel would help answer the question. They will continue working to find the answer. In Act 3, the students come together as a class and discuss their results. The teacher will reveal the solution to the question. Then, the students can think of other questions they could possibly pursue next.
I had an opportunity to develop a 3-act play on volume with a great group of mathematics educators. Click on the links below to view each part of our task.
Act 1 – Introducing the Scenario (Teacher page, student page)
Act 2 – Exploring the Question (Teacher page; student page)
Act 3 – Resolution! (Teacher page; student page)
References
3 Act Tasks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sfusdmath.org/3-act-tasks.html.
Wolfram Alpha. www.wolframalpha.com
The Chronicles of Algebrea 