Common Core Question Asks: "There are 25 Sheep and 5 Dogs in a Flock. How Old is the Shepherd?"

Pundit Press ^ | 10/17/14 | Aurelius

[therightliveswithus]

In an intentional attempt to study and potentially confuse children, children were asked "There are 25 sheep and 5 dogs in a flock. How old is the shepherd?" Why might you ask this supposedly common-core aligned question?

According to the teachers who created this problem, it is to teach students that they must:

1. Explain the meaning of a problem.

2. Plan a solution pathway rather than simply jumping into a solution attempt.

3. Continually ask themselves, "Does this make sense?"

This question has actually been researched for years, and is still being asked to children. Today, however, it is now considered aligned with the common core because it forces children to think about their strategies in answering questions.

So, how did students actually answer the question? As expected, with a great amount of confusion:

And:

[ontap]

And some one is drawing a paycheck for this Buu$#!t !!!!

[Genoa]

Down?

[C210N]

An aiplane full of Americans crashes in Canada. Where are the survivors buried?

[RJS1950]

Logical reasoning questions like this used to be part of the regular testing for nuclear planning officers who were advisors to the NCA. Some are real mind twisters but there was an answer that in the end made some sense.

[NorthMountain]

If a rooster lays an egg ... then we’re completely lost in bizzarro world ...

Therefore the egg falls in Washington, DC and dances the boogaloo with michelle 0bama and her turnip.

[Sirius Lee]

Syncopation, because bees live inside my head.

[RJS1950]

That type of question is not for grade schoolers who should be learning the real basics of math.

[grania]

These are open ended questions. I would teach students to tell a story, starting with a true sentence, using good grammar and spelling: "A shepard, to be successful, must have healthy sheep and dogs to help with their care". Then tell a story about the legend of Ahmad the Shepard who had two dogs to watch his sheep, given to him on his 10th birthday and they parented three puppies the next year, so Ahmad is 11 years old.

Falls into the category of if you're asked a stupid question, give a stupid creative answer. Oh, and draw a picture or make a family tree of the sheep and/or the dogs for the creativity points.

Yeah, this is bizarre.

[SoConPubbie]

Logical reasoning questions like this used to be part of the regular testing for nuclear planning officers who were advisors to the NCA. Some are real mind twisters but there was an answer that in the end made some sense.

So, do pray tell, what is the answer to this question that makes some sense?

[Mich Patriot]

Roosters don’t lay eggs.

[GraceG]

[ If a rooster lays an egg directly on the top of a pointed roof, which way does the egg roll? ]

Depends on how bad Global Warming is today and how long the rooster has been transgendering....

[DigitalVideoDude]

[CrazyIvan]

You heartless conservative. That joke is very insensitive to transgendered birds who may be trapped in a male body but wish to give birth.

[pabianice]

A train leaves New York going west at 35 MPH. Another train leaves Chicago going east at 68 MPH. What is the weather enroute?

[bgill]

Cool shepherds wear shades so it is hard to tell the color of his eyes. Guaranteed if he voted RAT, his shades are rose colored.

[RJS1950]

Couldn’t tell you. I wasn’t a planner, I was the battle staff team chief. Don’t remember any of the specific questions either; I’ve been retired for over 20 years.

[Celtic Conservative]

You Don’t bury survivors.

CC

[M Kehoe]

“How old is the shepherd?”

Thirteen, and his name is David.

5.56mm

[Resolute Conservative]

If your daddy owns a pick-up truck and your mom likes to drive it how many guns are there in your house?

[polymuser]

42