Who-Am-I? puzzles give clues about some mathematical object — usually a number or a shape — and you are to figure out what the object is. Think Math! introduces Who-Am-I? puzzles in grade 3, chapter 4, in the service of place value, where the puzzles are called Mystery Number Puzzles.
These puzzles develop academic language and specific vocabulary connected with discussion of place value, and provides practice with place value ideas.
Here is one puzzle about a two digit number, from Think Math!, grade 3 (LAB book, page 73):
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These Who-Am-I? puzzles were invented by a second grader, Lena.
Who am I?
Who am I?
Who am I?
When you make up puzzles of this kind, it is often good to give “wasted clues” — clues that aren’t needed. For example, if one clue is “my units digit is even” and another clue is “I’m an even number,” one of those clues is not needed. When teaching with the puzzles, it is good to ask students if they really need all of the clues. This helps them focus on how much information they get from each clue. Did Lena give any clues that were not needed?