Counting on Frank

Author: Rod Clement

Publisher/Date: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 1991

ISBN: 0-8368-0358-2

Grade Levels Recommended for Use: 6-8

Brief Summary: A boy and his dog present amusing counting, size comparison, and mathematical facts.

Topics: estimation; nonstandard measurement; probability

Suggested Activities:

1. The students will create their own book about math facts just like the boy in the story. They can make comparisons or ask interesting questions and answer with amusing answers just like the boy in the story.

2. Have the students estimate the time it takes to do certain task just like the character in the book. Try this exercise to help students become aware of the relationship between time and what they do in their everyday lives. Before beginning various tasks have students guess how long they think it will take to complete each task, such as walking to music class, cleaning the room, drawing a picture, and tying shoes. Write their estimates on the board. Time each task and note the times next to the estimated for the children to compare.

3. Just like the character estimated how many Franks would fit into his bedroom, have the student estimate how many children will fit into several different boxes. Show the different boxes to the students. Ask the students which box more students can hide in and which box fewer students can hide in. Allow the students to investigate by having the students climb into the boxes to see how many students fit into each box. The students can graph this.

4. The students can create a book in which they make references to nonstandard measure. They can find items that are a meter long, inch long, etc. Example: A baseball bat is about a meter long and the width of your fingernail is about a centimeter wide.

5. Let students measure several items with nonstandard items of measurement.

6. Let the students participate in a scavenger hunt. Have them find objects that equal two baseball bats in length, etc.

7. Have a counting contest. Fill a measuring cup with macaroni noodles. Have the student estimate and then count the macaroni noodles. Then fill the same cup with cooked macaroni noodles. Have the students estimate and predict rather there will be more noodles or less. Have the students count the noodles.