Start with raindrops on any of the top numbers.

We will start with 856 in the middle. On each move down the windshield choose the largest number one row beneath and touching your raindrop’s current location.  In this example 597, 638, and 404 are the three possible numbers to move to. Which is the largest?

Of 597, 638, and 404 the largest is 638 so we will move there. Repeat. Can the student in the back left of the classroom tell me where the raindrop goes next?

441 is correct. Can Ms. pink headband with white frills tell me where the rainbow goes next.

PS.  I often do not see students frequently enough to remember their names. They don’t mind me referring to their clothing. I joke my way of naming is superior – because they can change their name each day.

882

730

Students should be stopped and asked to pose some questions. Two sample questions:

• Do all the raindrops end up at the same space at the bottom of the windshield? Answering that for each maze would be interesting.
• We are choosing the largest number each time. If we choose the smallest number each time could we end up with the raindrop in the same space at the bottom?

Students should be stopped and asked to pose some questions. One of the ones that I’m hoping for is:

Do all the raindrops end up at the same space at the bottom of the windshield. Figuring that out is the objective of this puzzle-maze.

697

828

Do all raindrops starting at the top end up on 697?

Students might ask what to do if two numbers under your current position are the same. The answer is that I made sure this wouldn’t happen. The numbers are not totally random.

Students in later grades might ask what dimensions of Windshield means that waterdrops starting from the top will end up on the same bottom space half the time.