School disco

School disco

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This practical task is about working out patterns with numbers.
disco ball and disco dance floor
Practical Task
 
The cost to get into a school disco is $2. If you want to buy a can of drink at the disco it costs $1. 

a)  How much will it cost if you go to the disco and buy one drink? $_____

b)  What is the total cost for 2 sisters to go to the disco and buy a drink each? $_____

c)  What is the total cost for 3 friends to go to the disco and buy a drink each? $_____

 

The teacher gives the correct answers to a), b), and c) at this point, if a mistake has been made.
 
 
d)  Without using the coins, what is the total cost of 10 people going to the disco and each buying a drink? 
 
      $__________
 
e)  How did you work this out?
 
 
 
 
 
 
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
Equipment: $1 and $2 dollar plastic coins.
  • Read the instructions aloud to the students. 
  • Give the students the coins to use to answer parts a), b), and c). Do not let students use the coins to answer parts d) and e).
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Number and Algebra, Equations and expressions
Keywords: 
linear equations, money, rules, substitution
Description of task: 
Students use plastic money to explore and continue a number pattern about going to a disco. They then describe the pattern.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Using symbols and expressions to think mathematically, set 4
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
a) $3
b) $6
c) $9
d) $30
e) Used multiplication. Either:

•   Multiplied the number of people by $2 (for the entry fee)
     and added on $1 for each person (for the cost of the drinks).
•   Multiplied the number of people by $3 for the total cost.

Used repeated addition to add on ten lots of three.

NOTE:  This could be done individually with the teacher recording the responses or as a group task with students writing down their answers.

Figure It Out: Algebra L2-3 p.7