Cup Tower Challenge

Materials/Equipment: 400 plastic cups, challenge

sheets, ipads, Sock Puppet intro, rulers, pencils,
Promethean board

Curriculum Integration:
Math

Differentiated Learning:
Auditory
Kinesthetic
Verbal/Linguistic
Intrapersonal

Visual/Spatial
Logical/Math
Musical
Interpersonal

TEKS Achieved:
4.1c - select tools, including real objects, technology as
appropriate, techniques, and number sense as appropriate, to
solve problems
4.3b- decompose a fraction in more than one way into a sum of
fractions with the same denominator using concrete and
pictorial models and recording results with symbolic
representations
4.8b - convert measurements within the same measurement
system

Blooms Taxonomy:

Knowledge/Remember
Analysis
Comprehension/Understand Evaluate
Application
Create

Classroom Strategies:

Cooperative Groups
Hands-On
Technology
Independent Activities
Charts/Graphs/Maps
Problem Solving
Whole-group

Submitted by: Kristin Buholtz

Grade Level: __4th___

Subject:_____Math______________

Rationale: Students will work in groups using 100 plastic cups to build a tower as tall as they can, they will determine different fractions of the cups,
measurements, and conversions of the completed tower.

Objectives:

TSW use real objects, techniques, and technology to solve problems.

TSW use real objects to identify and decompose fractions.
TSW convert measurements within the same measurement system.

Lesson Plan:
Introduction:
Sock Puppet App introduction to announce what the students will be doing in a fun way.
Process:

Information Giving:
I will have the guidelines on the Promethean as I go over them. Explain what each role in the group will be doing once they are in their groups.
Guidelines that must be met:

Your company (group) must have a name

Your company will need to be able to supply Mayor Smith with the correct fraction of each color cup that is used to build the tower

Your company will need to be able to supply Mayor Smith with correct fraction of cups on each level of the tower

Your company will need to be able to complete the appropriate measurement conversions of the tower
Group Roles:

Press Secretary: this person is responsible for the technical details and presentation of the final product and needs to be ready to
summarize the group's progress and findings to the instructor and to other groups

Timekeeper: monitors time and moves group along so that they complete the task in the available time, keeps area clean

Facilitator: moderates discussions, keeps the group on task, encourages all group members to participate in project tasks, and makes sure
all group members have the opportunity to participate and learn

Elaborator: relates the discussion and purpose of project tasks with prior concepts and knowledge

Materials Master: gets needed materials and is the communicator between group and teacher

The only one with permission to ask the teacher questions all questions/comments must be communicated to this person.
The groups will create a ShowMe Presentation to share with the class the different stages of their building process.
Modeling:
I will show students the cups they will be using, the tasks they will need to complete for the challenge, and where to answer the problems for this
challenge. I will show them where the materials are, what materials they will need.
Check for Understanding:
I will review guidelines by referring back to them and asking questions as I go through them to see if they understand what they will be doing during
the challenge.

Guided Practice:
Throughout the challenge I will be walking group to group to see how their tower is progressing. I will ask them questions to make sure they
understand what fractions they need to find, how are they going to find them. I also will look at the pictures the press secretary has taken so far
to make sure their progression will be shown in their presentation.
Independent Practice:
Each group member will answer his/her own questions on their own challenge sheet. The fractions will be counted as a group, but the conversions will
be done individually.
Closure/Culminating Activity:
Each group will present their tower and show the completed ShowMe Presentation at the end of the challenge. The winning company will be
announced.

Enrichment/Extension:
For students that need further enrichment I will have them look at their fractions and convert them to decimals and explain the connection of the
denominator of 100 meaning the same as writing a decimal to the hundredths place.

Accommodations:
1.

(what YOU will do to modify your lesson)

Special Needs (Autism) - He will be grouped with students that he works well with in a group, he is also given a group role that he will be engaged
with and comfortable with throughout the project.

2. ELL - She is grouped with someone that speaks her primary language; this is also a team hands-on project and she will be able to construct knowledge
visually and kinesthetically without language barriers.

Assessment/Evaluation:

I will assess their understanding of using the appropriate tools in the most effective way to identify and decompose fractions and measurement
conversions through observing group discussions, progression of their towers, watching the presentations, and by the answers to their challenge sheet
problems.

Name:_____________________

Smith City Math Museum

Cup Tower Challenge
In honor of the 100th day of school the Mayor of Smith
City would like a math museum to be built. A paycheck
bonus of $100 will go to the company (group) that is
able to build the highest tower using 100 plastic cups
AND follow the guidelines below.
Guidelines that must be met:
Your company (group) must have a name
Your company will need to be able to supply Mayor
Smith with the correct fraction of each color cup
that is used to build the tower
Your company will need to be able to supply Mayor
Smith with correct fraction of cups on each level
of the tower
Your company will need to be able to complete the
appropriate measurement conversions of the tower

Company Sheet

Company Name:___________________________________

Fractions of each color:

Red

Orange

Yellow

Light
Green

Dark
Green

Blue

How many levels tall is your tower?

Purple

Pink

___________

Below list the fraction of cups used for each level.

Measure your tower in centimeters then use a T-chart

to convert that measurement to millimeters.

______________cm.

______________mm.

Order the fractions of the colored cups from

least to greatest.

Find equivalent fractions for all of your

tower level fractions.

Write your colored cup fractions in decimal

form.
Red

Orange

Yellow

Light
Green

Dark
Green

Blue

Purple

Pink

Explain the relationship of having 100 as a

denominator and writing a decimal for that
fraction.

Press Secretary: this person is responsible for the technical

details and presentation of the final product and needs to be ready
to summarize the group's progress and findings to the instructor and
to other groups

Timekeeper: monitors time and moves group along so that they

complete the task in the available time, keeps area clean

Facilitator: moderates discussions, keeps the group on task,

encourages all group members to participate in project tasks, and
makes sure all group members have the opportunity to participate and
learn

Elaborator: relates the discussion and purpose of project tasks

with prior concepts and knowledge

Materials Master: gets needed materials and is the communicator

between group and teacher
The only one with permission to ask the teacher questions all
questions/comments must be communicated to this person.