Cup Stacking

Cup Stacking 

An activity we did this week involved cup stacking. We needed to figure out how many cups tall our instructor was.

The information that we were told was that 5 plastics cups=12 cm, 12 plastic cups= 20 cm, and the instructor's height. 

Trying to solve this problem was something I struggled with so it was helpful to see different ways of solving this problem. The method that I thought was most interesting was using the values given as coordinate points to determine slope, y-intercept, and then producing a graph. I had not even considered solving this problem graphically and was stuck trying to approach it in an algebraic way.

http://mr-stadel.blogspot.ca/2015/05/the-ultimate-task-for-vertical-planning.html

It was also suggested that students could complete this activity as a way of demonstrating direct and partial variation. I thought this connection was great visual since students in my placement grade 9 class struggled with the two.

http://mr-stadel.blogspot.ca/2015/05/the-ultimate-task-for-vertical-planning.html

A variation of this activity would be to use different types and sizes of cups, and looking at when the two stacks of cups are equal.

What stuck out from this activity was the variety of ways students could approach and solve this problem. It was also mentioned in class that this activity could be used as a consolidation of a concept, or as an introduction to the topic.

I found this activity to be fun and interactive, and hope to be able to try this out with a future class.