· Understands the concept “chart”

· Understands the purpose and value of organizing information in charts

Procedure: The activity is best done by students individually or in teams of two.

Distribute the handout and ensure that students understand what the assignment is. Emphasize the fact that the key to solving the mystery is organizing the data.

Discuss the first two clues and ensure all students understand how it is shown in the chart. Then have the students begin the activity and circulate to offer guidance as needed.

Answer: When clues “b” and “c” are added to the chart, it should look like this:

The chart now shows that the only possible critic for cheesecake is Mr. Potts. This means also that Mr. Potts does not prefer any other desserts. When this information is added to the chart, it looks like this:

Entering clue “d” gives this result:

We see that Mrs. Smith prefers ice cream:

Carrying on in this fashion, the result is this:

Critically Acclaimed Desserts

Chef Von Frugel had a list of the favorite desserts of New York’s five biggest food critics. But he lost the list.

These are the five desserts.

These are the five critics.

All the chef can remember is that each critic prefers a different dessert, and the clues below. Can you help him figure out which critic prefers which dessert?

a) Sometimes, instead of her favorite dessert, Mrs. Smith eats strudel.

b) The person who prefers cheesecake is a man.

c) Mr. McDuff doesn’t like cheesecake, pie or ice cream.

d) Mrs. Smith never orders desserts that start with a “p”.

e) The person who prefers pudding is a woman.

f) Mrs. Lisboa hates pudding.

Use this chart to organize the information in the clues. An “X” means that a person does not prefer that dessert, and a “+” means that a person does prefer that dessert. The first clue has already been put into the chart.