Exemplifying a model-eliciting task for primary school pupils

Mathematical modelling is a field that is gaining prominence recently in mathematics educaiton research and has generated interests in schools as well.  In Singapore, modelling and applications are included as process componens in revised 2007 curriculum document (MOE, 2007) as keeping to reform efforst. In Indonesia, efforts to place stronger emphasis on connecting school mathematics with real-world contexts and applications have started in Indonesian primary schools with the Pendidikan Matematika Realistik Indonesia (PMRI) movement a decade ago (Sembiring, Hoogland, Dolk, 2010). Amidst others, modeling activities are gradually introduced in Singapore and Indonesian schools to demonstrte the relevance of school mathematics with real-world problems. However, on order for it to find a place in the mathematics classroom, ther eis a need for teacher-practitioners to know what mathematical modelling and what a modelling task is. This paper sets out to exemplify a model-eliciting task that has been designed and used in both a Singapore and Indonesian mathematics classroom. Mathematical modelling, the features of a model-eliciting task, and its potential and advice on implementation are discussed.