Gold Seal Lesson:
Snack Time

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Mathematics

Grade:

5-8

ICLE Standards:

Mathematics As Problem Solving: Acquire confidence in using mathematics meaningfully.

Statistics: Construct, read and interpret tables, charts and graphs; make inferences and convincing arguments that are based on data; develop an appreciation for statistical methods as powerful means for decision making.

Number and Number Relationships: Understand and apply ratios, proportions and percents in a wide variety of situations.

Performance Task:

Mrs. Jones is concerned because her daughter, Julie, is overweight. She is afraid that this will be harmful to Julie's overall health. Mrs. Jones feels that Julie consumes an excess of snack items each day. By observing what Julie eats, she found that her favorite snacks were: chips, candy bars, soft drink, ice cream and peanuts. Mrs. Jones knew that the recommended daily calorie intake for Julie was 3,000 and that only 30 percent of these should be fat calories (fat calories = 9 X No. of grams of fat). She investigated the average number of calories and grams of fat in each of Julie's favorite snack foods. She collected this data:

Help Mrs. Jones analyze this data by constructing graphs showing the number of calories and fat calories in each snack item and by using percentages to illustrate how these items effect Julie's recommended intake. Do you think Mrs. Jones has any reason to be concerned with what Julie eats as snacks? What do you feel is the maximum number of calories and fat calories that Julie should consume through snack foods? Should Julie eliminate these snacks from her diet entirely? Look up the calorie and fat content some other foods that could be substituted for the snacks that Julie presently eats. Make up a recommended daily diet of snacks for Julie. Write a brief summary of your findings and recommendations in your math journal.

EXTENDED ACTIVITY: Keep a record of the daily snacks that you consume for one week. Determine the number of calories and fat calories that you average per day. State any conclusions that you can make and any recommendations that you have for your own diet as related to snack foods.

Note to the teacher: The book Complete Book of Food Counts is a good reference book for students to use to find facts about food.

Knowledge / Skills:

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

Understand the best procedures for statistical data collection, organization, and display.  (m5)

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

Use writing as a tool for learning in formats such as learning logs, laboratory reports, note-taking, and journals.  (ela40)

Rubric:

4 Points  =  The student independently gives complete responses to all parts of the task. He/she shows understanding of calories, fat grams, and fat calories. The student understands the relationship between allowed calories and fat calories. Graphs depict understanding of data. The student applies knowledge to analyzing the problem and making conclusions and recommendations.

3 Points  =  The student needs some coaching to completely respond to all parts of the task. He/she shows an understanding of calories, fat grams and fat calories, but has come difficulty understanding the relationship between allowed calories and fat calories. His/her graphs adequately display the data, but are not completely accurate. The student has some difficulty applying his/her knowledge to analyzing the problem and making conclusions and recommendations.

2 Points  =  The student does not complete all parts of the task. Although the student has some understanding of calories, fat grams and fat calories, he/she is unable to apply this knowledge to the problem situation. He/she has difficulty making conclusions and recommendations.

1 Point  =  The student is unable to complete the task. He/she does not understand the relationships between calories, fat grams and fat calories. The student is unable to draw any required graphs or complete the required analysis. He/she is unable to make any conclusions or recommendations.

Keywords:

STATISTICS
GRAPHS
INFERENCE
MEASUREMENT
PROBLEM SOLVING
STATISTICS IN DAILY LIFE 
RESEARCH 
RATIOS

Grades:

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

ICLE Application:

D

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