Chapter 12
Part 1: For the problem in the Teacher's Edition, page 308
Provide students with the Activity Page (PDF file).
If you are going to have students do research about Native Americans, brainstorm topics they could look for that would lend themselves to multiplication and division of fractions.
If students are not going to do research, have students look at the picture on the chapter opener on page 308. Talk about modern American powwows. Explain that the dancers wear outfits that incorporate both feathers and beads. Suggest that the students make up problems such as the following about feathers and beads.
- A dancer needed
of a package of feathers for an outfit. How many packages of feathers would the dancer need for six of those outfits? - A dancer had 6
packages of beads. She wanted to distribute the beads equally among three outfits. How many packages of beads would she have for each outfit?
Part 2: Be an Investigator
A good time to do this investigation is after Lesson 3 on multiplying with mixed numbers.
Introducing the Investigation
Introduce the investigation by reading aloud the assignment at the top of the first page of the Description of Investigation and Student Report (PDF file), by having one of your students read aloud the assignment, or by having the students read the assignment individually.
Put students in groups of two to four to work on the investigation.
Doing the Investigation
Remind students that they need to write mixed numbers as improper fractions before multiplying.
Answers for the Data Sheet — Max the Clown's Parties
| Party | Length of Party | Fraction of the Party for Max the Clown's Act | Length of Clown Act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saul's Party | 2 hours |
of the party |
1  hours |
| The Tuttle Family Party | 2 hours | of the party |
hour |
| Jana's Party | 1 hours |
of the party |
1  hours |
| The Ace Company Party | 3 hours |  of the party |
1 hour |
In their explanations students should say that they multiplied the length of the party by the fraction of the length of the party for the clown act.
Student Report
The Student Report gives students an opportunity to show what they have done and explain how they did it.