1. Problem Solving with Plants vs. Zombies
By: Jasmine Shelton

2. Objectives My Objective: Plants vs. Zombies Objective:
Utilize technology to help stimulate (engage) students and introduce/enhance problem solving skills
Plants vs. Zombies Objective:
Use plants to prevent zombies from entering your house and eating your brains

3. Problem Tasks
How many peas from a Peashooter or Snow Peashooter are needed to stop a Zombie (a Conehead Zombie, or a Buckethead Zombie?
How do these plants compare in their effectiveness?
Which plants are most effective at stopping various zombies?
Chose three different zombies to investigate.
Describe the defensive plants that are most effective at stopping each zombie.
Why is the plant so effective?
How do these plants compare in their effectiveness?

4. Student Descriptions 2 Students Grades: 5 & 8 Experience Level
Student’s role: Activity Lead
4 Helpers (2 helpers per student)
Various Ages
Each group will have:
1 person with minimal experience with the game
1 person with exceptional experience with the game
Each helper will have some background knowledge with mathematics and will aid the student when needed.
Helper’s role: Gather and Validate the Data
Record data on spreadsheet (Shown on next slide)

5. Plants VS Zombies Data Chart
Level
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
1-9
1-10
Zombie
Flag Zombie
Conehead Zombie
Pole Vaulting Zombie
Buckethead Zombie
Screen Door Zombie
Football Zombie
Total Count:
Cherry Bomb
Chomper
Peashooter
Repeater
Snow Pea
Split Pea
Squash
Threepeater
Torchwood
Walnut
 Sunflower
 Potato Mine

6. Problem Solving Session
Time
1 – 2 hours
Activity
Adventure Mode:
Free Play (15 min.)
Levels 1-1 -> 1-2
Discussion (5-10 min.)
Problem Solving
Problem Tasks
Activity (45 min.):
Levels 1-3 -> 1-7
Review/Final Discussion (5-15 min.)

7. Problem Solving Session Results
5th. Grade Team
8Th. Grade Team
Peashooter
10 Peas -> Zombies
28 Peas -> Coneheads
11 Peas -> Flag Zombies
Peashooter
11 Peas -> Zombies
30 Peas -> Coneheads
11 Peas -> Flag Zombies
Snow Pea Shooter
Does same amount of damage to Zombies as Peashooters
Slows Zombies

8. Problem Solving Session Results Continued
5th. Grade Team
8Th. Grade Team
Peashooter
10 Peas -> Zombies
28 Peas -> Coneheads
11 Peas -> Flag Zombies
Peashooter
11 Peas -> Zombies
30 Peas -> Coneheads
11 Peas -> Flag Zombies
Snow Pea Shooter
Does same amount of damage to Zombies as Peashooters
Slows Zombies

9. Student Assessment 5th. Grader 8th. Grader Strategic Plan:
Originally stated:
No plan used
Add Plants rapidly
Used Walnuts to give her more time to collect suns
Goal: Destroy all zombies without wasting lawnmowers
Strategic Plan:
Must have 2 rows of Sunflowers
Organization is the key to Victory
Goal: Destroy all zombies and proceed to the next level even if you use lawnmowers

10. Extension
If each block of grass measures 2 inches long, how fast is the Zombie moving in feet per second? How fast is the Zombie moving in miles per hour? Compare this rate with other zombies (a Conehead Zombie, a Buckethead Zombie or a Football Zombie). Which zombie moves the fastest? Which zombie moves the slowest? What are the rates of the zombies?

11. Reflection

12. Works Cited

13. The End