Ideas for Generating and Testing Hypotheses in Math
 Ask students to hypothesize about what will happen if they double one
factor in a multiplication problem and keep the other one the same? What
about halving one factor and keeping the other one the same? How is the
product affected when one factor is doubled and the other halved?
 Using the multiplication table think about how that might help us with
equivalent fractions making conjectures.
 Before collecting data ask students to predict which they think will be the
most popular and least popular responses. Why do they think so? Is this
what the data showed? Why or why not?
 CGI word problems:
o Predicting the answer (is it more or less) focusing on reasonableness
before they start to solve the problem
o Use conjectures and whether or not the conjecture will be true
always, sometimes, or never and why. Ask “How did you know; show
me your thinking in your brain.”
 Students, when finding common denominators to add fractions or subtract
fractions with unlike denominators decide whether they will come up with
the same answer if they use a different denominator and explain their
thinking.
 Use of number strings to test hypothesis
 Volume - ways to determine volume and dimensions
 Order of operations - inserting parentheses
 Cathy Fosnot lessons - all investigative
 Using coins & scenarios to make predictions
 Doubling/increasing recipes for larger crowds