Gold Seal Lesson:
Seating Capacity

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Mathematics

Grade:

5-8

ICLE Standards:

Problem Solving: Develop and apply a variety of strategies to solve problems, with emphasis on multi-step and non routine problems.

Measurement: Estimate, make and use measurements to describe and compare phenomena; select appropriate units and tools to measure to the degree of accuracy required in a particular problem.

Technology: Use computer utilities to develop conceptual understanding.

Performance Task:

Your task in this activity is to make a spreadsheet that determines the seating capacity of the bleachers at your school (football field or gymnasium). If there are no bleachers available for you to use, find an area of your school that might be used for the location of bleachers. You are first to select an appropriate measuring device and measure the the bleachers. Make a detailed scale drawing of the bleachers with measurements clearly labeled. Next, develop a spreadsheet that can be used to determine the seating capacity. 

This must clearly indicate to anyone looking at it how the spreadsheet can be used to arrive at the seating capacity. You may want to attach a written explanation to your spreadsheet. You are to determine different seating capacities, depending on the size of people sitting on the bleachers. You may want to determine an “average adult” seating capacity, an “average middle school child” seating capacity, an “average small child” seating capacity, or decide on an average of these sizes to accommodate a variety of different sized people. You can accomplish this by labeling one of the cells “seat size” so that when you enter different values in for the size, the computer will recalculate “Total Seating Capacity.” Write a brief report explaining how you carried out the task and justifying the results you obtained.

Note to the teacher: Students should be familiar with spreadsheets before attempting this task.

Knowledge / Skills:

Perform operations with signed (positive and negative) numbers, including decimals, ratios, percents, and fractions. (m1)

Understand the use of variables in expressions such as 4x, x+2, and 2x-1, solve for the variable, and know how to represent expressions such as "twice the number" or "four more than the number" using variables. (m7)

Compute the perimeter and area of two-dimensional figures. (m13)

Understand the characteristics of measures of central tendency (i.e., mean, median, and mode). (m15)

Use the technique of dimensional analysis to convert units of measure (e.g., convert km/hr to m/min). (m33)

Use expository writing skills in subjects other than English language arts. (ela58)

Rubric:

4 Points = The original measurements are accurate and a drawing of the bleachers is made using an appropriate scale. The model is neat and correctly labeled. The spreadsheet is well developed and clearly written so that someone looking at it can understand it. Formulas used in the spreadsheet are correct and clearly defined. The total seating capacity arrived at is accurate and appropriate. The written report is very thorough, clear and well written.

3 Points = The original measurements are accurate. A drawing of the bleachers is made, but either an appropriate scale is not used or it is not correctly labeled. The spreadsheet is adequate, although it is not written clearly enough for someone looking at it to understand. Formulas used in the spreadsheet are implied, but not well defined. The total seating capacity arrived at is accurate and appropriate. The written report is thorough, relatively clear, but not smoothly written.

2 Points = The original measurements are not all accurate. The drawing of the bleachers is made, but the scale is not adhered to in the scale drawing. Some measurements are left off the drawing. It is difficult to understand the spreadsheet. Written explanations are either missing or vague. It is not obvious what formulas were used. The total seating capacity is not accurate, but is reasonable. The written report is somewhat vague and poorly written.

1 Point = The original measurements have many inaccuracies. A drawing of the bleachers is made, but a scale is not used in the drawing. Most measurements are omitted from the drawing. Major errors occur in the development of the spreadsheet, resulting in inaccurate conclusions. Little care was taken to follow directions in developing the spreadsheet. There are no written directions and no formulas. It is impossible to understand the spreadsheet or to ascertain how it was generated. The total seating capacity, if stated, is incorrect and not reasonable. The written report, if any, is meaningless and very poorly written. The student lacks writing communication skills.

Keywords:

GEOMETRY
CENTRAL TENDENCY
EXPOSITION STATISTICS
DATA COLLECTION
MEASUREMENT
PROBLEM SOLVING
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
DATA DISPLAY
COMPUTATION 
RATIOS

Grades:

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [x] - 6 [x] - 7 [] - 8 [x] - 9 [] - 10 [] - 11 [] - 12 []

ICLE Application:

D

© 2000 International Center for Leadership in Education
1587 Route 146 - Rexford - NY - 12148
518.399.2776 Fax: 518.399.7607
98