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

A brownie bake

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L194

A lesson plan for grades 3–4 Mathematics

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Students determine the amount of each ingredient needed to make brownies, and then they figure out how to divide the brownies evenly among their classmates. In addition to reinforcing measurement skills, this activity could also be used to introduce prime and composite numbers. Illuminations provides a sign-up sheet for baking duties and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Use problem solving skills, measuring techniques, and food preparation experiences to practice various math concepts.
  • Prepare, after determining minimum amounts of ingredients required, a commercial brownie mix and serve equal portions to all class members.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Understand such attributes as length, area, weight, volume, and size of angle and select the appropriate type of unit for measuring each attribute.
  • Understand the need for measuring with standard units and become familiar with standard units in the customary and metric systems.
  • Understand various meanings of multiplication and division.
  • Develop understanding of fractions as parts of unit wholes, as parts of a collection, as locations on number lines, and as divisions of whole numbers.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will model, identify, and compute with whole numbers through 9,999.
    • Objective 1.05: Use area or region models and set models of fractions to explore part-whole relationships.
      • Represent fractions concretely and symbolically (halves, fourths, thirds, sixths, eighths).
      • Compare and order fractions (halves, fourths, thirds, sixths, eighths) using models and benchmark numbers (zero, one-half, one); describe comparisons.
      • Model and describe common equivalents, especially relationships among halves, fourths, and eighths, and thirds and sixths.
      • Understand that the fractional relationships that occur between zero and one also occur between every two consecutive whole numbers.
      • Understand and use mixed numbers and their equivalent fraction forms.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.03: Solve problems using models, diagrams, and reasoning about fractions and relationships among fractions involving halves, fourths, eighths, thirds, sixths, twelfths, fifths, tenths, hundredths, and mixed numbers.
  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will understand and use perimeter and area.
    • Objective 2.02: Solve problems involving perimeter of plane figures and areas of rectangles.