CCSS: 5.MD.5, 5.NBT.7
Georgia’s K-12 Mathematics Standards: 5.NR.1, 5.GSR.8, 6.NR.2
Act 1
Ask students:
- What do you notice? Record student responses.
- What do you wonder? Record student curiosities and wonders.
Focus question(s): How many pennies will fit in the small cube? How much money is that?
Ask students to:
- Write down an estimate that is too high.
- Write down an estimate that is too low.
- Write down a best guess estimate.
- Mark each estimate on an empty number line.
Act 2
Ask students what information/tools they need to answer their question. Give them their information as they ask for it.
NOTE: From experience (mine and others who have shared with me), students rarely ask for the size of coins. They do, however, ask for pennies and a ruler along with the dimensions of the cube.
When they ask, I give groups/pairs of students a small dixie cup of pennies (about 20 or so) and a ruler.
If students do ask for the dimensions of a penny, they can still be found below.
Act 3
Share your solution and strategies. Compare your strategies and results.
Watch the Act 3 Reveal, then discuss using the questions that follow.
- How reasonable were your estimates?
- What might you do differently next time?
- What did you do well during this task?
Sequels
Small Penny Cube: The Weight of it All!
How much does this Small Penny Cube Weigh?
For Act 2, students may wish to use the pennies and a small scale, or they can use the coin specifications list from Act 2, above.
The Reveal:
The weight of the Small Penny Cube in pounds.
The weight of the Small Penny Cube in grams.
Small Penny Cube 2: Invasion of the Quarters!
Quarters would fit nicely in this cube as well. Which would you rather have, a cube of pennies or a cube of quarters?
Small Penny Cube 3: Return of the Pennies!
If this cube was one cubic foot, how much money would it hold?
How much do you think it might weigh?