The Problem Solvers

The Problem Solversby ReadWorks

Problems-whether they are scientific, medical, creative, culinary, personal, communal, or any other type-require solutions. The best way to find a solution that fits is to first research the problem. Find out as much as you can about what the difficulty is. Say, for instance, the issue is architectural in nature. A boutique hotel was built several years ago on a beach, facing the sea, in Los Angeles, California. Its owners have pointed out that the building is not handicap-accessible and would like for you to make it so. To begin, you will need to study the hotel, look into what makes a physical space handicap-accessible, and understand what the owners' needs are. Where exactly is the hotel? How big is it, how is it laid out and how many floors? Is it important that only the lobby be made wheelchair-accessible, or will handicapped guests also need to get from the hotel down to the sand? How much money do the hotel's owners have to spend on solving this problem?

Once you properly comprehend the problem and all of the details surrounding it, it's time to brainstorm. No matter what stage you find yourself in, it is usually helpful to share proposed ideas with your peers. More heads are better than one, and shared ideas can lead to improved projects and designs. Now imagine that just the hotel's lobby and rooms need to be made wheelchair-friendly. How might this be accomplished? You will have discovered, from your research, that a surface that is firm and level will allow for wheelchair traffic, and will also have traction for walkers. The easiest way to make an entry accessible is to install a ramp. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a ramp should use the least possible slope and be at least 36 inches wide to accommodate a person in a wheelchair. To prevent slipping, you might consider handrails and curbs. What about the front door leading to the lobby? Ensuring the outdoor entrance is protected from elements like rain will make it safer.ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Problem Solvers

Clearing paths of travel through doorways and hallways is also important. If there are potted plants on the ground, one solution could be to replace them with hanging plants. In the individual guestrooms, it could be helpful to install adjustable rods in closets, and certify that light switches are low enough and electrical outlets high enough. Throw rugs have the ability to move around, so it would be wise to go with other flooring choices instead. Showers are easier to roll into than baths for those with limited mobility. How about installing a seat or a hand-held showerhead? Grab-bars and a taller toilet would work to make the bathroom more accessible, too.

It is crucial to come up with more than one solution. Now that you've thought of as many answers as possible to the problem at hand, test them and adjust them according to your test results. There are countless ways to evaluate solutions with respect to how well they meet the particular criteria and constraints of an issue. Maybe the best way to test out a ramp would be to build one or more prototypes. Then you can experiment with different materials and location. Tests are usually designed to identify points of failure. In other words, you will want to submit your ramp to tough conditions to see if it will be successful even under these circumstances. Try out a particularly heavy wheelchair. Will your prototype support it? Try out a manual chair, an electric mobility scooter and a walker. Will a permanent access ramp work better, or is a fold-up portable ramp more suitable in this situation? How does wood hold up in comparison to aluminum or concrete?

Sometimes, different solutions can be combined to create a result that is better than any of the ones that have come before it. Perhaps during the brainstorming process, your peers suggested two equally good solutions to the problem at hand. One proposed using a ramp to help handicapped guests bypass the stairs. The other proposed using a stairlift, a mobilized chair with the ability to transport people right to the top of the steps. It is possible that the best solution will be some combination of these two suggestions. How might both of these ideas work together? Maybe the least costly solution would be to eliminate the ramp and the stairlift, and simply clear a path to an elevator. Test it out. Is the route leading to the elevator wide enough for a wheelchair? Is the elevator itself wide enough? When thinking up solutions and performing tests, you must take into consideration a whole variety of variables-in this case, factors like cost, efficiency and safety levels.

These same steps can be applied to any kind of problem, from simple science experiments in the classroom to big, real-world difficulties. For people who have practiced problem solving, running through these stages comes as second-nature. Picture an experienced cook in a kitchen, readying herself to bake a chocolate cake for a birthday party. The birthday party begins in an hour or two, so she will need to work quickly! Suddenly, the cook realizes that she has run out of butter and the recipe calls for some. What to do? She does not have time to run to the grocery store. After rapidly examining the problem and brainstorming, she might come up with a list of butter substitutes. Some common ones are canola oil, olive oil, margarine and shortening. Sometimes butter can also be replaced with pureed fruits, like apples, bananas or dates.

By performing various tests, the cook will be able to determine which butter stand-in will work best in her cake. From her research, she will understand that the process of creaming butter together with granulated sugar helps achieve the rich, fluffy, spongy texture that is so important to cakes, cupcakes and other baked goods. In her tests, she will likely discover that because of this "creaming" step, using oil on its own, instead of butter in this case, will not yield the results she is looking for. It could be that combining two of the butter substitutes would be best. Maybe the cook only has margarine with salt in it, when the recipe calls for unsalted butter. The solution here could be to use the margarine, but to then reduce the amount of salt added to the mixture. The cook will need to consider several variables here, including taste and texture.

Next time you have a problem to solve, think back to these guidelines. What is the quickest way to ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Problem Solvers

get to school when you've missed the bus? How to block the light from coming through your windows when you don't have any curtains or blinds? How to make a plant grow in a room that's too dark, or a space in which the sun only shines in a single spot? What happens when you'd like to play a game with six people, but only have enough parts for five? What to use instead, when you have no face paints, but have promised your little cousin that you'd dress her up like a clown for Halloween? The keys are these: research the issue, brainstorm alone or with peers, list a variety of solutions, test those solutions, modify them on the basis of your tests, and then select the best one. In most instances, this should lead you to an answer that works well. Just follow our cook's lead. She must have landed on the right solution because the kitchen smells great!

ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.

TYPES OF PROBLEMS

Refer to your article, Problem Solvers . The article identifies types of problems. Below is a description of each problem. Scientific Problems --These problems are typically charaterized or related to technology, research, facts, and knowledge. Creative Problems --These problems relate to the ability and power to produce, develop,and create. They require people to develop, change, or enhance--sometimes from the beginning to the end. Examples include: writing, arts, inventions, and etc. Culinary Problems --These problems are related to kitchen or cookery. Examples: restuarants, catering events, baking, and etc. Personal Problems - -Personal problems are those that involve one’s mind, emotions, body, spiritual well-being, and relationships. Communal Problems --These problems impact the community. Examples include: poverty, schools,creation of parks, and government. Financial Problems --Financial problems are those that are related to money. Examples: jobs, payments, poverty, debt, stocks, savings, and etc.

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 1

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UN9uOSY-gcQw_nLIz5VMXaTORQDrDpJF-g7aDcajJHI/edit 1/3

1. Email address *

2. 5 points

Mark only one oval.

test possible solutions

list a variety of solutions

brainstorm with peers

research the problems

3. 5 points

Mark only one oval.

building a ramp

putting a throw rug in every room

placing potted plants in the hallway

removing hand-held showerheads from the bathrooms

AMI Week 5: Day 1AMI Week 5: Day 1: Read the passage Problem Solvers and answer each question.* Required

What is the best way to start solving a problem? *

The problem with the hotel described in the passage is that it is notaccessible to handicapped people? *

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 1

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4. 5 points

Mark only one oval.

The best way to begin solving a problem is to research the problem.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a wheelchair ramp should be at least 36inches wide.

Throw rugs can move around on the floor, making a room less wheelchair-friendly.

A cook who needs a butter substitute could use canola oil, olive oil, margarine, orshortening.

5. 5 points

Mark only one oval.

Testing ideas show people that their ideas are not as good as they thought.

Tests can show whether an idea for solving a problem will actually work.

Tests show people that wood is always a better material for building than concrete.

Tests make cooks feel foolish when they have run out of butter.

6. 5 points

Mark only one oval.

a cook who runs out of butter.

the U.S. Department of Justice

canola oil, olive oil, margarine, and shortening

the process of solving problems.

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google.

A problem can have more than one solution. What evidence from thepassage supports this statement? *

Why is testing ideas before solving a problem important? *

What is the passage mainly about? *

 Forms

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 1

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4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 2

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1. Email address *

2. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Scientific

Creative

Culinary

Financial

3. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Personal

Creative

Culinary

Scientific

AMI Week 5: Day 2Read the article, "The Problem Solvers", and refer to your materials "Types of Problems". Answer each question below. Be sure to read each scenario carefully. * Required

My project requires me to build a 3-D model of the digestive system. *

Michelle is having difficulty expressing thoughts about her poor grades. *

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 2

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4. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Culinary

Creative

Personal

Communal

5. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Creative

Culinary

Financial

Personal

6. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Culinary

Personal

Communal

Creative

7. 5 points

Check all that apply.

Communal

Creative

Culinary

Financial

The group is writing and producing a play on bullying. (This question has 2answers). *

Donna is baking a 3 cheese quiche. She lost her recipe and needed to knowwho much salt and bacon is needed. *

Kara is organizing a fundraiser to address pollution. *

I need to think of a way to earn $2,000 for washer and dryer. *

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 2

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 Forms

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 3

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1. Email address *

2. 5 points

Check all that apply.

including

last

before

meanwhile

3. 5 points

Check all that apply.

for example

instead of

therefore

even if

AMI Week 5: Day 3Week 5: Day 2 English. Read each sentence and select the correct answer. * Required

There are several steps in the process of problem solving,_______________research and brainstorming. Which word provides the besttransition? *

Solving a problem requires many steps;___________, it's crucial to exploremore than one solution carefully. Which word provides the best transition? *

4/13/2020 AMI Week 5: Day 3

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4. 5 points

Check all that apply.

when

while

because

during

5. 5 points

Check all that apply.

For example

Meanwhile

Suddenly

Therefore

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Many experts believe it is good to consult with others ___________faced witha difficult or an important decision. Which word is the best choice? *

Scientific problems are characterized by many topics. _____________,technology, research, facts, and knowledge are just a few categories. Whichword(s) create the best transition? *

 Forms

Write Your Problem and Solution Reflect on the passage: Problem Solving. Answer each question Prompt: You and a group of friends will start a fundraiser to help with the expenses for a school trip. What are some things you should consider? What problems do you expect to encounter? Who will you seek for advice, and what lessons you might learn in the process?

1. What is hydrology? A. The study of weather patterns throughout the earth B. The study of oceans and freshwater sources C. The study of the movement and distribution of water on earth D. The study of the movement of air throughout the earth

2. What does the author describe in the passage? A. The evolution of aquatic species B. The movement and distribution of water on Earth C. The history of sea-based exploration D. Life on earth during the Ice Age

3. Read the following sentence: When we study other planets or their moons, we look for traces of water to see if the place could have supported life. It is so important that many people fear if it continues to become scarcer, wars may be fought over water in the future! Based on the above evidence what conclusion can be made? A. Water constantly cycles on below and above the earth’s surface B. Water is crucial in supporting life C. Over 70% of the total surface of our planet is covered with water D. About 96.5% of the world’s water is found in oceans

4. The amount of water in rivers and lakes is always changing due to inflows and outflows. Based on the information in this passage and the diagram, what are these inflows and outflows part of? A. The evaporation process B. The water cycle C. The precipitation process D. Human-controlled systems.

5. What is the passage mainly about? A. Factors impacting the amount of fresh water B. Human use of fresh water C. The processes of the water cycle D. The different sources of water on Earth

6. Read the following lines from Samuel Colerdge’s poem Water, water, everywhere And all the boards did shrink Water, water everywhere Nor any drop to drink

The author uses this poem in the passage to illustrate what concept?

A. The salt water in our oceans has the power to shrink boats B. The United States has more drinkable water than other countries C. The ocean’s water is unfit for drinking by humans D. The glacier’s of our planet and melting and flooding our rivers

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Over ninety-six percent of earth’s water is too salty for humans to consume. _____________ we must get it from one of the many freshwater sources that have a lower concentration of salt and other dissolved solids than seawater. A. Finally B. Consequently C. However D. On the other hand

8. Where can we find “sweet water”?

9. The oceans contain what percentage of the water on earth?

10. The author writes that water is “so important that many people fear if it continues to become scarcer, wars may be fought over water in the future!” Describe at least one contributing factor that might lead to a shortage of water in the future. Use evidence from the passage to support your answer.

6th Grade AMI Week of April 20-24, 2020

X Physical Geography

Have you ever been on a camping trip or to an outdoor event and needed to choose the perfect spot for your group to gather? If you really put some thought into it, you looked at the terrain and chose a place that had enough flat surface area to keep your items from rolling away. You also considered the sunlight, shade, water features, and possibly even wind patterns. All these factors could increase or decrease your group's enjoyment of the activity. If you chose incorrectly, you either moved to a more favorable location or at a minimum had the thought that in the future you might need to choose differently.

The decisions that you or someone in your group made are very similar to the ones that humans have always made any time they relocated. In this first module, we will explore the physical characteristics of the Earth and use maps to enable us to draw conclusions about the ways in which landforms, bodies of water, climate, and natural resources influence human settlements. Since the concepts learned in this unit will be revisited many times throughout the course, students should read the information and review the examples provided multiple times.

Our Earth (Third Rock from the Sun)

Credit: by [Source: Glossy Globe" by freedo is licensed under CC BY 4.0]

At some point in your life, you have probably learned about our Solar System and Earth. While you know that we are on a planet that has an environment which is conducive to human survival, you may not have considered how our planet's location and formation created the conditions necessary for us to be denizens of the Earth. The concepts in this lesson will help you identify the characteristics a location must possess in order to sustain human life. In addition, it will increase your understanding of why landforms and natural resources are not distributed evenly throughout the planet.

Growing up, many children hear the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This story is so common in society that many scientists use the story to help explain how unique or rare our planet Earth is. As you may recall, Goldilocks breaks into a house and tries to find comfort in her new surroundings. When she attempts to eat the food, she finds that some of it is either too hot or too cold for her to enjoy consuming it. When she encounters the food that is the right temperature, she devours it. Similar to Goldilocks's need for food within a specific range of temperatures, humans require a planet that is neither too hot, nor too cold to sustain human life.

Since our closest star, the Sun, is our source of heat and energy, our distance from it is of great

importance. To sustain life, planets must be in what is often called the habitable zone around a star. Our Earth is such a planet. It is close enough to the Sun to keep water from freezing; yet far enough away that it does not cause our water to evaporate.

As important as heat and light are to our survival, our location in the habitable zone is not the only factor contributing to our ability to flourish on the planet. To survive, we require a protective atmosphere, land, an appropriate climate, fresh water, food, and natural resources.

Although we live on the surface of our planet, it is important for us to understand how our Earth's composition has influenced and continues to influence human life.

[Source: "1.1 Geography Basics" by University of Minnesota Libraries is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 / A derivative from the original work] X 6th Grade AMI week of April 20-24, 2020 Climate

Climate is a word you often hear, but what exactly is climate and how is it different from weather? The following quote offers a good way to remember the difference between climate and weather.

Weather is the atmospheric condition you experience on a day or within a short period of time. Climate is an average of the weather of a location over a long period of time. While weather can change quickly and frequently within a day, the climate cannot because climate is an average of the weather over longer periods of time.

There are many factors which influence a region's climate. These include latitude, elevation, and proximity to large bodies of water. Latitude heavily influences climate because the latitude of a region determines the amount of direct and indirect sunlight that it receives. The equator receives more direct sunlight and is much hotter than the poles that receive little sunlight.

Natural Resources

Throughout human history man has needed a place to live. Once humans were able to depend on agriculture, the exact settlement location chosen became particularly important.

In fact, the location chosen often determined the success or failure of settlements. When choosing a location, people have always needed to consider sources of fresh water because water is one of life's necessities. Beyond drinking water, a plentiful supply of water helps to irrigate crops. In areas near rivers and oceans, water provides a source of transportation. In other areas, it provides a source of energy. What resources have people needed beyond water?

[Source: "Introduction to Physical Geography" by Georgia Virtual Learning is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work]

Answer the questions below in complete sentences.

1. How does our planet’s physical attributes impact human settlement?

2. How does climate influences human settlement?

3. How do maps tell us about locations for human settlement?

6th Grade AMI Week of

Human Geography Introduction

In the second lesson we discussed physical geography and the factors that should be considered when selecting a location for settlement. Once humans are placed in an area, the location has the potential to change greatly. Now let’s look at one definition of Human Geography:

Human geography is the study of human activity and its relationship to the earth’s surface. Human geographers examine the spatial distribution of human populations, religions, languages, ethnicities, political systems, economics, urban dynamics, and other components of human activity. They study patterns of interaction between human cultures and various environments and focus on the causes and consequences of human settlement and distribution over the landscape. While the economic and cultural aspects of humanity are primary focuses of human geography, these aspects cannot be understood without describing the landscape on which economic and cultural activities take place.

Think back to your choice of a location and consider how the location could be very different depending on the people with whom you share the space. Do the people want to drastically change the area, or do they want to preserve it and leave it more natural? Do they want to remove parts of it? What may seem like progress or a necessity to one person or group of people may not seem ideal to another.

As you can see, perception is shaped by our culture and what we value.

Do you have a great deal in common with teens from your part of the world or region? Even if it does not seem like you do, you may have more in common with them than you would someone in another part of the world and there is an excellent reason for this. When you live in the same region of the world, it is more likely that you have similar experiences and that those experiences have shaped you.

Consider the following: Do you share a language, enjoy the same types of food, celebrate many of the same holidays, attend some of the same events as other teens in your region? Even if you have different religious or political beliefs, are you familiar with the prevailing religious and political beliefs of your region? Cultural similarities and knowledge develop through living in the same region. The similarities may even extend to having matching economic or environmental challenges.

When you leave your region, you may encounter people who are very different culturally, religiously, economically, environmentally, and politically. If we all live on the same planet and require the same necessities to survive, why are we culturally different? This course will help you understand the reasons that others have developed the traditions, opinions, systems, and world views that they have. If you were to stay in a different culture for an extended period, you may start to assimilate and take on many of the traits or habits that are common in the region.

In this lesson, we will focus our attention on the distribution of human populations, cultures, religions, languages, political systems, and economies. Since the concepts learned in this unit will be revisited many times throughout the course, students should read the information and review the examples provided multiple times.

Home Is Where the Hearth Is

Have you ever wondered where the first civilizations were formed? As you know from the previous unit, areas with warmer climates and an abundance of fresh water make human life easier to sustain.

This knowledge helps explain the appearance of the world's first civilizations near water sources. 6th Grade AMI Week of

Although water is one of the necessities for human existence, more than a good climate and water is needed to have sprawling civilizations. What changes occurred and led to the creation of the world's first civilizations?

Answer the questions below in complete sentences.

1. What is culture and how does it develop?

2. How does agriculture benefit humans?

People By The Numbers

Do you like numbers and statistics? Do you find information gained from data to be interesting? Within human geography there is a field of study devoted to population changes and the spatial distributions of populations across the planet. This number driven field is called demography and the people who study it are called demographers. Demographers are interested in human population growth and decline. They collect information about the numbers of births and deaths in various regions. They track the migrations and settlement patterns of humans and provide information about what the future populations may be. Take a moment to fully consider the information displayed in the graph below.

Hopefully, you see that the population prior to 1960 grew very slowly and that between 1960 and 2000 it grew rapidly. Did you notice the green projected line that declines? If our population has been increasing for all these years, what causes demographers to project possible declines? The answer is that populations do not always increase and in many modern countries the populations are declining.

What causes changes in populations?

Increasing populations are often the result of living in agricultural societies. This is due to the need for many people to cultivate the crops. Other causes include advances in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation.

Decreasing populations are, as one might guess, due to people leaving agricultural jobs to work in developed urban areas. Other causes include a decline in healthcare, a decline in sanitation (particularly a decline in the cleanliness of water sources), and or a decline in the food available to provide proper nutrition. 6th Grade AMI Week of

What are the problems associated with population growth?

The more people that populate an area, the more resources the inhabitants consume. Some areas cannot sustain large populations and eventually suffer from deforestation, soil erosion, mineral depletion, and water pollution. Take a moment to review the information contained in the charts below. Which countries have the largest populations? Which continents have the largest populations?

The Impact of Isolation

Earlier in this unit we examined the various birthplaces of civilizations and the ways that the development of agriculture allowed populations to increase. In looking at a world map of these cultural hearths, it is apparent that they developed in relative isolation. This is an important observation because geographic isolation led to the growth of different languages, belief systems, government structures, and cultural traditions. Compare the Eastern Hemisphere of the world religions map below to the Eastern Hemisphere of the map above. The religious belief systems of the various regions can be traced back to the cultural hearths from which the people came.

Answer questions in a complete sentence.

1. What causes changes in populations 2. What problems are associated with population growth? 3. What impact does geographic isolation create?

Journal Entry Prompt: What If?

What do you think would happen if technologies such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) suddenly stopped working for two weeks? How would everyone be affected? Explain your answer.

Your response is expected to be in your own words and be written using correct spelling and grammar.