3 Act Tasks

 
What’s a 3 Act task? This visual performance task was originally formulated by Dan Meyer, a former high school teacher who believed that students needed a story to put the math in context.  He structured the 3 Act task.   First, there’s a video/picture that introduces a 
problem (Act 1). Next, there’s a few clues that give a little more context to the problem (Act 2). Usually, I expect the students to ask for this information.  Students then have
 to construct/craft a solution path themselves. Last is the big reveal–the answer (Act 3).
All videos can be downloaded or viewed at Vimeo.
Feel free to use this template for each lesson. 

 

 
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M&M Spill


Standard K.MD.2
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Balloons


Standard K.OA.1, K.OA.4
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Flying Cards


Standard K.CC 2, K.CC 3, K.CC 4, K.CC 5
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Rainbow of Mess


Standard K.MD.3
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Ghost Candy


Standard K.OA.1, K.OA.4
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Turtle Log


Standard K.OA.1, K.OA.4
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Sharing Hearts


Standard K.NBT
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Fun Size Adding


Standard 1.OA.5, 1.NBT.2
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Shrinking Toy


Standard 1.OA.5.A1
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Fast & Furious


Standard 1.OA.6, 2.OA1
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All Ducks Go to Bed


Standard 1.OA.5.A1
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Floating Ducks


Standard 1.OA.5
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Little Bunnies


Standard 1.OA.5, 1.NBT.2
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Pool Table


Standard 1.OA
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Ping Pong Bounce


Standard 1.OA
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Penguins in Passing


Standard 1.OA.5, 2.OA1
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Bouncing Balls


Standard 1.OA
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Hallway Doors


Standard 1.OA
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Mega Smarties


Standard K.OA.1, K.OA.4, 1.OA.5.A1
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How to build a book tree


Standard 1.OA.5
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Stolen Skittles


Standard 2.OA1
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Cars for Kobe


Standard 2.NBT.6
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Christmas Colors


Standard 2.NBT.B5
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Tallest Men


Standard 2.MD.A.4
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Jingle Hoops


Standard 1.OA.5, 2.OA1, 2.NBT.5
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Jeep Flag


Standard 2.NBT.B5
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Deep in the Heart of Texas


Standard 2.NBT.B5
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Let’s Bounce


Standard 2.OA1, 2.NBT.B5
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Kisses & Bells


Standard 2.OA1, 2.NBT.5
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Elf Elevator


Standard 1.OA.5, 2.OA1, 2.NBT.5
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Colors of Love


Standard 2.OA1, 2.NBT.5
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P.Bear’s New Year’s Eve Party


Standard 2.OA1
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Glass Drop Races


Standard 2.OA1
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Baseball Gumballs


Standard 2.NBT.5
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Birds of a Feather


Standard 2.NBT.B5, 2.OA1
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Tic Tac Toe


Standard 2.NBT.B5, 2.OA1
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Three Sizes of M&Ms


Standard 2.NBT.B5, 2.NBT.B7, 3.NBT.A2
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Spinning Wall


Standard 2.NBT.5
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Taste the Rainbow


Standard 2.OA1, 2.NBT.B5
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Chalk Box


Standard 2.OA1, 2.NBT.5
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Sum Chocolate Bunnies


Standard 2.NBT.5
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A Full Deck


Standard 2.OA.C.3, 3.OA.A.3
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Fly With Me


Standard 3.NBT.2
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Joey’s Money


Standard 3.NBT.2
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Fly With Me Again


Standard 3.NBT.2
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Rainbow Hands


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 3.OA.A3
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Rainbow Kisses


Standard 3.OA.A.3
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America’s Favorite Pasttime


Standard 3.NBT.A2
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Sharing is Caring


Standard 3.OA.A.3
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Fill ‘Er Up


Standard 3.NBT.A2
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Tri-CAN-gle


Standard 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.4
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Soda Menorah


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 4.NBT.5, 5.NBT.B.5
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Corvette Car Flag


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.4
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Bountiful Bon Bons


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 4.NBT.4
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Many Macarons


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 4.NBT.4
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Candy Combo


Standard 3.OA.A.3
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Lollipop Tower


Standard 2.OA.C.3, 3.NBT.A2
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Grand Old Flag


Standard 3.NBT.3
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Seattle Buildings


Standard 3.NBT.2
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M&M Jar


Standard 4.NBT.5
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Stack of Sodas


Standard 4.NBT.5
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American Pepsi


Standard 4NBT5
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Ferrero Frenzy


Standard 4NBT5
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Napkin Rolls


Standard 4NBT5
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Divided Hearts


Standard 4NBT6
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Jumping Jelly Beans


Standard 4NBT6
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The Egg Spangled Banner


Standard 4.NBT.5
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Tower of Water


Standard 4NBT5, 3.NBT.2
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Colorful Clips


Standard 4NBT6, 4.NBT.6
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Wall of Water


Standard 4.NBT.5
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Brawny Wall


Standard 4NBT5
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Slim Cans


Standard 4.NBT.5
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HexaStar


Standard 4.NBT.6
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Morning Cereal


Standard 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.4, 6.EE.A1, 8.EE A.2
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Stars & Stripes


Standard 4.NBT.5
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Money Box


Standard 4.NBT.4, 3.NBT.A2
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Road Racers


Standard 4.OA.A.3
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Eiffel Tower


Standard 4.NBT.4
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Short & Tall


Standard 4.MD.A.2
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12 Days of Gifts


Standard 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.4
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Peeps On A Stick


Standard 4.NBT.5
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Sneaker Closet


Standard 4.OA
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Rainbow Sprinkles


Standard 3.NBT.A2, 4.NBT.4, 4.NBT.5
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Very Beary Pyramid


Standard 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.5
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In Cars We Trust


Standard 4.NBT.4
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Cans of Paint


Standard 5.NF.6, 5.MD.1
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Towers of Coins


Standard 5.NBT.B6, 5.NBT.B7, 6.NS.B3
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Coin Spiral


Standard 5.NBT.B.5, 5.NBT.B.7, 6.NS.B.3
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My Oh My Pie


Standard 5.NF.B.6, 6.NS.A.1
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Vend-o-price


Standard 5.NBT.B.7, 5.NBT.B.5
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Chocolate Fractions


Standard 5.NF.1
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Yard of Snickers


Standard 5.NF.1, 5.NF.3, 5.NF.6
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Cubetastic


Standard 5.MD.C.5, 6.G.A.4
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Pizza Delivery


Standard 5.NBT.B6, 5.NBT.B7, 6.NS.B3
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Sassy Cents


Standard 6.NS.B.3
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National Taco Day


Standard 6.RP.2, 6.RP.A.3
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M&M Pyramid


Standard 8.EE A.2, 6.EE.A1, 4.NBT.5, 3.NBT.3
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Ball Drop


Standard 6.EE.9, 6.RP
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Bowling Ball Pyramid


Standard 6.EE.A1, 3.NBT.3, 4.NBT.5, 8.EE A.2
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Too Many Quarters


Standard 6.RP.2, 6.RP, 6.RP.A.3
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Penny Pile


Standard 8.EE A.2, 6.EE.A1, 4.NBT.5, 3.NBT.3
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Big Ruler


Standard 6.RP.A.3
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Tasty Twizzlers


Standard 6.RP
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Hits and Misses


Standard 6.RP.A.3
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Too many degrees


Standard 7.NS.A1, 6.NS.C7
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Pizza Puzzler


Standard 7.G.B4
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Pyramid O’ Cans


Standard 8.EE A.2, 6.EE.A1
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Home Run


Standard 8.G.B.7
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Salad Bar Choices


Standard HSS-CP.B.9