Category: Math

Lesson Summary

The Quangle Wangle lives in the crumpetty tree and wears an enormous hat!  But he is not truly happy until his creature friends come to build homes on his hat. 

Challenge:  Using the dimensions given in the poem, students will design and build a scaled model of the Quangle Wangle’s hat, ensuring there is enough surface area for homes for his friends.

STE or Math Standards

• STE: Technology/Engineering

  6.MS-ETS1-5(MA). Create visual representations of solutions to a design problem. Accurately interpret and apply scale and proportion to visual representations.*

  Math: Expressions and Equations 6.EE

  6.GA Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume

        4. Represent three dimensional figures using nets made up of rectangles and triangles, and use the nets to find the surface areas of these figures.  Apply these techniques in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

  6.RP.3c. Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30∕100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole, given a part and the percent.

ELA Standards

• Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas 4. Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate vocabulary, eye contact, volume, and pronunciation. (See grade 6 Language Standards 4–6 for specific expectations regarding vocabulary.) 5. Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify information. 6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grade 6 Language Standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

Video

The Quangle Wangle’s Hat by Edward Lear

Lesson Summary

María’s family are Honduran farmers, growing barely enough to eat. When they have a poor rainy season and little growth, her and her family have to eat the seeds they need to plant in the spring. They face some tough decisions. They can either borrow seeds from the coyote who wants to be repaid three times what he lends and will take their land if the debt isn’t paid, or her father must leave to find work in the highlands, in order to get more seeds. While her father is away for work, a new teacher comes to town and shows María sustainable farming practices that yield good crops. One of those practices is creating healthy soil through composting.

Using the Engineering Design Process, students will design and build a container for composting, so Maria and her neighbors can join in on sustainable farming. The model compost container should have at least 2-bins, be a right rectangular prism, be able to hold at least 4 cups of soil* and take up an area on the ground no larger than 30 sq in (since land space is limited.)

Note: The amount of soil and required area can be adjusted.

STE or Math Standards

• STE: Technology/Engineering

  6.MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution. Include potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.*

  Math: Expressions and Equations 6.EE

  2. Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers.
  3. Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).

  For example, use the formulas V = s3 and A = 6s2 to find the volume and surface area of a cube with sides of length s = ½ .

ELA Standards

• Grade 6 Speaking and Listening Standards [SL]

  Comprehension and Collaboration

  1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Video

The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough

Creepy Carrots

Lesson Summary

Jasper Rabbit loves eating the delicious carrots at Crakenhopper Field. He notices that the carrots start following him everywhere. Although his family tries to convince him that the carrots are not creeping up on him, he is desperate to find a solution to keep them away. He builds a fence to keep the carrots contained on Crakenhopper Field. He is happy to have some peace but the surprise ending reveals that the carrots had planned this scenario to keep him away from their field!

Using the Engineering Design Process, students will design and build a fence to keep Jasper out of Crakenhopper Field. The model of the fence should surround an area of at least 120 square centimeters and should be at least twice as high as Jasper to keep him out.

STE or Math Standards

• STE:  Technology Engineering

  3.3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem that reflects a need or a want. Include criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost that a potential solution must meet.

• MATH: Measurement and Data

  3.MD.C. Geometric measurement: understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and to addition. 

  5. Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement. 
  6. Measure areas by counting unit squares (square cm, square m, square in., square ft., and non-standard units).

  ***For this project, teachers and/or students can choose the method for measuring area.

ELA Standards

• Grade 3 Speaking/Listening Standards: Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas 

  4. Report on a topic, text, or solution to a mathematical problem, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace and using appropriate vocabulary.

Video

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

The Day the Crayons Came Home

Lesson Summary

Design a Crayon Organizer

Duncan’s crayons are scattered all over and they are very disappointed and want to get reunited with their pal, Duncan.

Help Duncan stay organized and make his crayons happy again by designing a well-measured Crayon Organizer.

STE or Math Standards

• Measure lengths:
  1.MD.A.1. Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.
  1.MD.A.2. Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
• Represent and interpret data:
  1.MD.C.4. Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

ELA Standards

• Speaking and Listening (SL):
  SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media
  SL.1.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
  Sl.1.6 Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation.

Video

The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt