LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Planning a trip to the state capitol

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L362

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 Mathematics

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During this lesson, student groups will plan a trip to the state capitol. Using the skills they developed in the previous lessons, students determine not only elapsed time and distance, but extend their problem solving to figuring meals and lodging costs. As students tackle this more complex task, teachers have opportunity to observe students’ growing competence. These include which variables students attend to, if students can find distances from a map, if students can find elapsed time, or if students can use elapsed time to plan a schedule. Illuminations provides activity sheets, links to helpful web resources, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Determine the distance to the state capitol.
  • Develop a schedule for a one-day visit to the capitol, including travel time and, if appropriate, lodging.
  • Compare options for reducing the cost of the trip.
  • Prepare a display based on their calculations.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Design investigations to address a question and consider how data-collection methods affect the nature of the data set.
  • Represent data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs, probability, and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including line graphs and bar graphs) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.03: Solve problems by comparing two sets of related data.

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including stem-and-leaf plots) to solve problems.