One mathematics ability that students should be developing at this age is the use of charts, tables, and diagrams to explain their reasoning. "Magic Maze" provides a good opportunity for this, as one of the challenges to the activity is the construction of a mental model for the enlightened "path." How could students use math to visualize the way?

Start off by handing each student a piece of graph paper (or lined paper along with a ruler) and have them make diagram of the math maze. (For example, if the maze is eight squares wide by ten squares long, have them create a table with eight columns and ten rows.)

Discuss how they could differentiate between the "safe" squares and the "unsafe" ones (perhaps an X for safe, and a shaded box for unsafe.) Now have the students recreate the "path" from the activity onto their diagrams. (They may want to work in pairs for help in remembering the path.) How much clearer is the path when a diagram can be used? It's a lot easier, isn't it? It may seem obvious, but this realization is key: Diagrams, models, symbols, and tables are used precisely because they make it easier to visualize something!


Standards

This activity supports: California Academic Content Standards - Mathematics - Fourth - Mathematical Reasoning. Standard 2.3: Students to use a variety of methods, such as symbols, tables, and diagrams, to explain mathematical reasoning.