Strike ’em Down & Add ’em Up!
Reuse two-liter bottles for bowling; practice math skills and develop a concept of verifying answers.
Big Idea: You can use old things to make new things
Materials:
- Ten used two-liter bottles (clean and dry)
- Sand
- Small to medium rubber ball
- Wide-point permanent marker
- Masking tape
- Paper and pencil
Illinois Learning Standards:
4.A Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
5.B Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
6.A Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
11.A Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.
11.B Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
5.B Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.
6.A Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
11.A Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.
11.B Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
Vocabulary:
Addition: finding the total amount of two or more numbers put together.
Verify: check that the answer is correct.
Reuse: use more than once
Verify: check that the answer is correct.
Reuse: use more than once
Activity Directions:
- Fill one bottle about 1/4th full with sand. Have a child “test” this bottle for its usability with the rubber ball. With the children’s help, determine the best weight for your bowling pins. Fill the bottles with sand according to what they decide will work the best. Replace the lids and screw them tight. Discuss how they are “reusing” the bottles instead of them going into the garbage.
- Write a numeral (from 1 to 10) on each bottle.
- Set the bottles up “bowling style.”
- Establish and mark a boundary line with a piece of masking tape (about eight feet from the bottles) from which children will take turns rolling the ball to “bowl for numbers.”
- Each child rolls the ball once. Have the children record and add the numbers on the bottles that are knocked down. This number becomes the score.
- Allow enough time to verify the totals by having all children do the math on their own score sheets.
Investigation Questions:
Q. Which is a better score; one big number (10) or two medium numbers (7 and 6)?
A. Two medium numbers because 7+6=13 and that is more than 10.
Q. How can you verify your answer?
A. You can draw a picture to represent the numbers, you can add the numbers again, or you can see if everyone got the same answer.
Q. Where do you throw the ball to get the best score?
A. At the biggest numbers.
Exhibit:
Workshop:
