As coins are dropped into the piggy bank, consider how the meter increases. Based on the increase relative to the whole one dollar, predict the value of each coin and determine the total amount of money deposited in the bank.

In this task, students explore the relationship between fraction and decimals. In particular, we will explore the equivalence between coins, expressed as fractions of a whole dollar, and their corresponding decimal representation. The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to think flexibly about these two representations.

When operating with fractions and decimals, at times, it will be more convenient to think of the fraction as a decimal, and vice versa.

All tasks within this unit are intended to be completed without the use of a calculator to support reasoning and thinking.

Some of the big ideas that will likely emerge in this task include:

• Fractions can be represented in a variety of ways;
• Fractions (and their decimal representation) represent values relative to a whole (for example, one whole dollar);
• Quantities represented as a decimal are fractions limited to base ten denominators (i.e.: tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc.);
• Standard representation of coin values are expressed as decimal hundredths.

Show students the following video:

Then, ask students:

What do you notice?

What do you wonder?

Give students 60 seconds (or more) to do a rapid write on a piece of paper.

Then, ask students to share with their neighbours for another 60 seconds.

Finally, allow students to share with the entire group. Be sure to write down these noticings and wonderings on the blackboard/whiteboard, chart paper, or some other means to ensure students know that their voice is acknowledged and appreciated.

Some of the noticing and wondering that may come up includes:

• I notice a piggy bank.
• I notice a bar on the side.
• I notice that every time the person drops a coin, the bar goes up.
• I notice he dropped money in the piggy bank seven times.
• I notice the bar goes from 0 – 2.
• I wonder why.
• I wonder if there was already money in the bank.
• I wonder what the black bar means.
• I wonder how much money is in the piggy bank.

At this point, you can answer any wonders that you can cross off the list right away. For this particular lesson, you will want to keep most of the information hidden at this time. By sharing too much information, you may rob students of their thinking. One thing you can confirm is that the piggy bank was empty before the first coin was deposited.

After we have heard students and demonstrated that we value their voice, we can land on the first question we will challenge them with:

How much money is in the piggy bank?

Make an estimate.

We can now ask students to make an estimate (not a guess) as we want them to be as strategic as they can possibly be. This will force them to use spatial reasoning alone to try and come up with an initial estimate and to share it with their neighbours by trying to articulate why they believe their prediction is reasonable.

Consider asking students to think about a value that would be “too low” and a value that would be “too high” before asking for their best estimate in order to help them come up with a more reasonable estimate.

Let them chat with their neighbours and challenge them to an estimation duel or a math fight.

Monitor student thinking by circulating around the room and listening to the mathematical discourse.

Encourage students to use precise mathematical language. You will likely hear students discussing coins using the names of the coins (quarter, dime, nickel), as well as the number of cents. Based on the movement on the meter, pay close attention to the use of fractional language.

For example, “I think the meter increased to one-tenth between 0 and 1”.

After students had an opportunity to share their best guess, tell them that you will share some information with them that might help to refine their estimate.

Show students the following image:

Prompt students with:

Based on the meter readings for all seven coins, determine the value of each coin, and the total amount deposited in the piggy bank. 

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Login/Join to access the entire Teacher Guide, downloadable slide decks and printable handouts for this lesson and all problem based units.

Login/Join to access the entire Teacher Guide, downloadable slide decks and printable handouts for this lesson and all problem based units.

Login/Join to access the entire Teacher Guide, downloadable slide decks and printable handouts for this lesson and all problem based units.

Show this video that empties out the piggy bank to reveal the coins:

Or consider sharing this image of the final frame of the video here:

Provide students an opportunity to reflect on their learning by offering this consolidation prompt to be completed independently.

Consolidation Prompt:

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We suggest collecting this reflection as an additional opportunity to engage in the formative assessment process to inform next steps for individual students as well as how the whole class will proceed.

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