Calculating Areas for the Caged Animals At Miami Metrozoo

Materials: Pen, paper, pencil, hand calculator, tables, measuring tape, overhead projector, chalkboard.

Objectives: The student, after the teacher's explanation and demonstration, will be able to calculate the areas of specified cages at Metrozoo.

Mathematical Concepts:
1. Measurements
2. Multiplication
3. Addition
4. Subtraction
5. Estimation
6. Conversion
7. Area
8. Volume
9. Length
10. Width

NCTM Standards:
Standard 1: Mathematics as Problem Solving
Standard 5: Number and Number Relationships
Standard 6: Number Systems and Number
Standard 7: Computation and Estimation
Standard 10: Statistics
Standard 12: Geometry
Standard 13: Measurements

Procedure:
1. Make a field trip to Miami Metrozoo.
2. Obtain the information from personnel and use it for this assignment.
3. Have students get into small groups. ( 3 - 4 students)
4. The teacher will demonstrate to the students how to measure the distances and to calculate the area of the cages.
5. With ruler or measuring tape, have one student stand at one end of cage and another student stand at the other side measure the side and call it the length. ( l )
6. With ruler or measuring tape, have the students follow the same procedure as before, measure the other side and call it the width. (w)
7. This procedure is continued until all of the measurements are taken and recorded in the log book or on the data sheet.
8. The students will calculate the area of the cages using the given data and known formula, Area (A) = length x width. The units for the length and width must be the same units and the area is always units squared. ( for example feet x feet = square feet.)
9. The teacher draws shapes on the chalkboard to help the students. The students will draw some shapes on their paper identifying the rectangular shapes showing the length and width.BR> 10. Have students convert from the English system to the Metric system for the length and width before calculating the areas. This exercise helps the students learn how to use the conversion tables.
11. As a homework problem have students calculate the volume of the cages. See attached sheets for more homework problems.
12. The teacher will explain the difference between calculating Area and Volume.
a. Area of a rectangle is the product of the length of one side multiplied by the width of the other side.
b. Volume is the length of one side multiplied by the width of the other side multiplied by the depth of the other side. Volume is always units cubed.

References: Administrators, Architects, Surveyors, Office Manager at Metro zoo, map

Miami MetroZoo: 12400 S. W. 152nd St. Miami, Florida 33177
Phone: (305) 251 - 0400

Web site: http://www.tourist.com/miami/attract/mia_attr.htm.

http://www.tourist.com/miami/attract/gif/metrozoo.jpg ( To see the beautiful picture).

Contributors: Major: Mignon Griffith
Minor: Carol A. Marinas , Professor of Mathematics At Barry University, Rosa Rivas, Chairperson of Mathematics Department.

DATA SHEET TO BE USED FOR RECORDING THE INFORMATION

      CAGES         LENGTH OF SIDES     WIDTH OF SIDES      AREA OF CAGES    

        1                                                                    

        2                                                                    

        3                                                                    

        4                                                                    

        5                                                                    

HOMEWORK

1. Calculate the area of a rectangle with length 12 feet and the width 8 feet.

2. Calculate the are of your bedroom, first measure the length and the width of the room. Then use the dimensions to find the area.

3. Calculate the total area of 3 rectangular room. Given the length of the room to be 16 feet and the width to be 14 feet. ( Note the room have the same dimensions )

4. Calculate the volume of the room, given the length to be 10 feet, the width to be 8 feet and the height to be 16 feet. ( Hint the answer will be in cubic feet)

** For extra homework students can calculate the areas.

      CAGES         LENGTH OF SIDES     WIDTH OF SIDES      AREA OF CAGES    

        1            AB =  12 feet      BC   =   6 feet     ABCD    =   ?    

        2            PQ =  10 feet       QR =  5 feet       PQRS    =   ?    

        3            LM =  20 feet      MN  =  10 feet        LMNO  =  ?     

        4            DE  =  15 feet      EF  =  9 feet       DEFG  =   ?     

        5            RA  =  8 feet      AB    =  4 feet       RABS  =  ?