# Don't Ditch the Boat

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Purpose

This is a level 3 number and measurement activity from the Figure It Out series. It relates to Stage 6 of the Number Framework.
A PDF of the student activity is included.

Achievement Objectives
NA3-1: Use a range of additive and simple multiplicative strategies with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages.
GM3-1: Use linear scales and whole numbers of metric units for length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), angle, temperature, and time.
Student Activity

Click on the image to enlarge it. Click again to close. Download PDF (237 KB)

Specific Learning Outcomes

find fractions of mass and volume

Required Resource Materials
scales, measuring jugs, 2 litre plastic bottles filled with water

plasticine or play dough (for the survival slab)

FIO, Level 2-3, Number, Don't Ditch the Boat, page 23

counters (for pills)

Activity

Providing students with a physical model of the problem, that is, a full 2 litre bottle of water, 1 kilogram of Plasticine or play dough, and a jar of 20 counters, will help them to work through the problem by identifying the important information.
For five sailors, 2 litres of water, 1 kilogram of survival slab, and 20 pills must last for 2 days.
Suggest that students consider each of the rations separately. A logical path to the solution might be:
Five people for 2 days requires 10 equal parts (tenths).

Some students may divide the ratios in half to get a daily amount and then divide this amount into fifths. Similar reasoning can be applied to the situation in question 4, where there are four people in the boat.
2000 mL ÷ 8 = 250 mL per person per day (water)
1000 g ÷ 8 = 125 g per person per day (survival slab)
20 ÷ 8 = 21/2 pills per person per day (vitamins)
Students who are not familiar with metric units are likely to use innovative ways to divide the amounts. For example, eighths of a 2 litre bottle can be found by:

Repeat the pouring with quarters of a bottle to get eighths.

1. 200 mL
2. 100 g
3. 2
4. 250 mL of water, 125 g of survival slab, and 2 pills each day or 2 pills one day and 3 pills the other day.

Attachments
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