6th Grade Task: Fun at the Ocean

Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions:

Whole Group Questions:

Can someone explain which number line (horizontal or vertical) seemed to work best for this situation?
Were there any key words in the problem that may have suggested using a vertical number line? Which ones?
What is the only object that everyone plotted in the same location in relation to Julie and Jamie? Why is that?
Can anyone generalize how to find the distance between any two points on a number line?
What does absolute value of a number mean?

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Understanding

Differentiation suggestions:

If students can’t get started….

Assessing Questions:

What can you tell me about the problem?
What is a number line?
Can you draw me a picture to help illustrate the problem?

Advancing Questions:

On your picture you have this line for the top of the water. Where do you think that water line should be represented on your number line? Explain why.

Extension suggestions:

If students finish early….

Using your work, write a generalization for finding the distance between two points on a number line.
Which point on your line could have been represented as either a positive or negative number? Why?
Think of some other objects that may be seen at the beach and place them on your number line. Explain your reasoning for each. Draw your number line in the opposite direction and use it to plot the same locations. Compare the two solution paths, and be ready to share with the class which one is easier for you to understand, and why.

Originator:

Tennessee Department of Education