Le Grand - Exquisite Excursions

SCORE Mathematics

Standards Connections

Exquisite Excursions

by

Julie Higginbotham

Introduction

This lesson is designed to encompass several class periods. Students will plan a trip to 6 world cities and use their math skills to solve problems encountered along the way.

Materials

Computer with Internet access. Travel chart (HTML) or Travel chart (PDF) for recording their findings.

Prior Knowledge

Basic understanding of percents, statistics, and map skills.

Grade Level: 4-6

Task

The students will locate 6 cities, one on each of the 6 major continents. They will find distances for each leg of their journey, convert to percents, use a time zone map, and convert to foreign currencies. This information will be recorded on a travel chart (HTML) or travel chart (PDF). A follow-up activity sheet (HTML) or activity sheet (PDF) is also provided.

Resources

World Timezone Map
International Distances
Choose a Currency

Process

The students will estimate the circumference of the earth. They will then find the range, mean, median, and mode of the class estimations.
The students will choose 6 cities, one from each of the six major continents and enter the names on the travel chart. The cities should be listed in a logical order for visitation. They will leave from and return to San Francisco. Using the Internet, students will find the distance for each leg of the journey and then convert this distance to a percentage of the total journey.
The students will convert Pacific time to the time in the cities they have chosen. Their instructions are: "Your parents are expecting you to call them at noon Pacific time from each of the 6 cities you visit. What would be the local time in each of your cities when you place these calls?"
The students will convert US dollars to foreign currencies. Each student will have $30 to spend on souvenirs in each city. They will need to convert this amount to the local currency.

Evaluation

The students will be evaluated individually since no two tables should be the same.

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California Mathematics Academic Content Standards

Grade 4:
Number Sense
2.0 Students extend their use and understanding of whole numbers to the addition and subtraction of simple decimals.
2.2 round two-place decimals to one decimal or the nearest whole number judge the reasonableness of the rounded answer

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
1.0 Students organize, represent, and interpret numerical and categorical data and clearly communicate their findings.

1.2 identify the mode(s) for sets of categorical data and the mode(s), median, and any apparent outliers for numerical data sets

Grade 5:
Number Sense
2.0 Students perform calculations and solve problems involving addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication and division of fractions and decimals.

2.1 add, subtract, multiply, and divide with decimals; add with negative integers; subtract positive integers from negative integers; and verify the reasonableness of the results
2.2 demonstrate proficiency with division, including division with positive decimals and long division with multi-digit divisors

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
1.0 Students display, analyze, compare, and interpret different data sets, including data sets of different sizes.

1.1 know the concepts of mean, median, and mode; compute and compare simple examples to show that they may differ

Grade 6:
Number Sense
1.0 Students compare and order positive and negative fractions, decimals, and mixed numbers. Students solve problems involving fractions, ratios, proportions, and percentages.

1.2 interpret and use ratios in different contexts (e.g., batting averages, miles per hour) to show the relative sizes of two quantities, using appropriate notations (a/b, a to b, a:b)
1.4 calculate given percentages of quantities and solve problems involving discounts at sales, interest earned, and tips

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
1.0 Students compute and analyze statistical measurement for data sets.

1.1 compute the range, mean, median, and mode of data sets

NCTM 5-8:

STANDARD 1: MATHEMATICS AS PROBLEM SOLVING
STANDARD 2: MATHEMATICS AS COMMUNICATION
STANDARD 5: NUMBER AND NUMBER RELATIONSHIPS
STANDARD 7: COMPUTATION AND ESTIMATION
STANDARD 10: STATISTICS
STANDARD 13: MEASUREMENT