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Subject

Math, Science & Technology

Related Activities

1. Pose the snowfall problem as described in Activity Sheet 1.
2. Discuss ways to obtain a solution. Encourage students to use manipulatives and/or draw pictures.

   

3. As a whole class create a bar graph for each hour to show the total amount of snow that has fallen. Can students see a pattern?
4. Have students predict the amount of snow at 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, and other future time periods. Assume the snowfall continues at a constant rate.
5. Vary the problem by changing the initial amount of snow on the ground and the snowfall rates.

Author

Adapted from the NYS Department of Education publication, A Toolkit for Mathematics Educators: Key Idea Tasks to Enhance Success (KITES)

Description

Using problem simulations, students will explore the pattern of snow accumulation and possible variations to develop an understanding of functional relationships. As the activities proceed through the grade levels, various methods of describing, representing, and extending patterns will be introduced.

Resource/Materials

Activity Sheet

Related Academic Standards

New York State

NY-1.MD.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.

NY-2.MD.10 Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Solve simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems using information presented in a picture graph or a bar graph.

1.MD.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.

2.MD.10 Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Solve simple put together, take-apart, and compare problems using information presented in a bar graph.

MST3.1.CN.1 Students recognize the connections of patterns in their everyday experiences to mathematical ideas.

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