Problem Solving

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Problem Solving Heolgerrig Primary School
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We looked at using mysteries in our history and
RE work?
Why did, talented rugby player, Josh not play in
the final at the Millennium Stadium?
Will Ruth go to the party of her best friend
Katie?
Why was twelve year old Arthur Coy working as a
bone gatherer in Merthyr in 1850?
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• How to solve a mystery?
• The statements or facts in the mystery need to
  be sorted into three categories, by the children
  working in mixed ability groups.
• Statements that describe the problems in Ireland,
  at the time of Arthur Coy.
• Statements that describe Merthyr Tydfil in the
  1840s.
• Statements about Arthur Coy and his lifestyle.
• (Any statements that do not fit into the above
  categories can placed in a separate pile.)

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The sorting and categorisation allows the
children to read and become familiar with the
facts in the mystery. They can also look at how
other groups have sorted out their cards and
discuss possible differences and similarities.
They now need to pick out the specific statements
that will help them to solve the mystery.

• Why was twelve year old Arthur Coy working as a
  bone gatherer in Merthyr in 1850?

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We talked about the problem. We discussed and
categorised the statements.
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We discussed which information was most relevant
in solving the mystery. We fed back our opinions
to the rest of the class. We were able to justify
our thoughts.
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The History of Arthur Coy. Arthur Coy was born in
Sligo, Ireland. His family had a small farm. Many
people had left Ireland at this time as there was
a famine. The famine was caused by fungus called
potato blight. The potatoes rotted in the ground.
It turned them into a black gooey mess. None of
Arthurs family had the specialist mining or iron
making skills. Arthur spoke Gaelic, he could not
speak English or Welsh. Arthur was a bone
gatherer. Bone gatherers earned very little. It
was a job that people did when they could get no
other work. Bone gatherers walked the streets of
the town looking for anything, like rags and
scrap metal, they could sell. They also collected
dog droppings, they were used to tan leather. By
1840, Merthyr Tydfil had become the most
important industrial town in Britain. Arthurs
home was surrounded by stagnant pools of water.
The house was shared with twelve other people.
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The children were asked to research Dr Thomas
Barnardo in order to create their own mystery.
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• The each wrote one of their facts about Dr
  Barnardo on a gird. They had to make sure their
  fact was different from all the others already
  written.
• Possible Questions

How did Thomas Barnardo help the homeless
children?
Why did Thomas Barnardo help the homeless
children?
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Conclusions

• The children retained a lot of the information.
• The children were engaged in a meaningful
  speaking and listening exercise.
• It was an excellent activity for categorisation
  and sequencing.
• The children enjoyed the activity.

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Problem Solving Heolgerrig Primary School