Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar

Author: Masaichiro & Mitsumasa Anno

Publisher/Date: Philomel Books; 1983

ISBN: 0-698-117653-0

Grade Levels Recommended for Use: 5-8

Brief Summary: A concept book about factorials in story picture style with heavy multiplication.

Topics: permutations; factorial; place value, scientific notation; problem solving; tree diagram

Suggested Activities

Activity 1: In small groups of four or five have the students figure out how many different seating arrangements are possible in their group. Once the have figured it out in person, have then figure it out with factorials and see if they actually found all the different arrangements.

Activity 2: Using Unifix cubes, have each student make up a problem that can be solved within their small group. Each student will make up their own problem in a context and explain what they are doing.

Activity 3: When they have experience in their small groups with factorials, have the class determine different arrangements for all the students in the class. This number will be very large (connection to place values and scientific notation).

Activity 4: Students will create tree diagrams to determine the number of ways to choose three stickers from a given sample space (each group should have a different sample space, with repeated stickers).

Activity 5: The students can solve real life situations. For example: Selena has four shirts, three pairs of pants and two glittery vests. How many different outfits can she design to wear on stage while she sings? 4! = 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24 outfits

Activity 6: Students create their own factorial problems for others to solve.