Thanksgiving Dinner Dilemma

Thanksgiving Dinner
Dilemma
www.thatmathlady.com © 2012

Middle School Math WebQuest &
Inquiry
By That Math Lady

Your Student’s Mission
• Your student has been given the task of preparing
and serving Thanksgiving Dinner! However,
certain problems have come up that they must
solve before everybody comes over on
Thanksgiving Day.
• Each slide has a different problem that students
must solve, using mathematics, for this feast.
• Only after each problem is solved, will they be
ready for Thanksgiving!


Math Standards
CC Standard Description
Common Core Standard Thanksgiving Problem
(Focused skills are in bold type.)
Solve real world problems involving multiplication of fractions
Problem Four: Stuffing Recipes
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.6 and mixed numbers, e.g., by using visual fraction models or
Problem Six: Turkey
equations to represent the problem.
Solve real world problems involving division of unit fractions
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.7c by non-zero whole numbers and division of whole numbers Problem Seven: Deserts
by unit fractions.

CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3 Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths. Problem Two: Cooking Utensils

Problem Three: Shopping for
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.B.7 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths.
Cranberries
Convert among different-sized standard measurement units
CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.A.1 Problem Four: Stuffing Recipes
within a given measurement system.
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to Problem Five: Following the Recipe
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1
describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. Problem Six: Turkey
Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3 Problem Five: Following the Recipe
mathematical problems.
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between Problem Four: Stuffing Recipes
quantities. Problem Five: Following the Recipe

Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and Problem Three: Shopping for
percent problems. Cranberries


Problem One: The Invitation
• Design an appropriately-themed invitation to
your fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner. Make sure
to include the when, where, and time of your
feast.
• Next, consider the people you are inviting to
share this Thanksgiving feast.
• Come up with a guest list of 2 – 12 people
who have accepted your invitation. (Don’t
forget to include yourself!) This guest list will
affect the problems that you come across.

Problem Two: Cooking
Utensils
Uh, oh! While prepping your kitchen, you realized a
few important tools were missing. Conduct an
Internet-based search to find the cheapest
version of each item:
– KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer
– Non-stick roaster pan
– Potato masher Use these retailer links to find
– Turkey baster these products being sold:
• Bed, Bath, and Beyond:
www.bedbathandbeyond.com
(The last 3 tools can be • Target: www.target.com
any brand.) • Amazon: www.amazon.com
• Kohl’s: www.kohls.com

Problem Three: Shopping for
Cranberries
You notice that two rival grocery stores have a
sale on canned cranberry sauce this week.
Determine which is the better buy for your
feast, and why.

Grocery Store A Grocery Store B
14 oz. Can of 14 oz. Can of
Cranberries Cranberries
Originally $1.49 Originally $1.65
SALE: Buy One SALE: Take 30%
get One for OFF when you
$0.99 buy TWO!

Problem Four: Stuffing
Recipes
• You still need to find a great stuffing recipe to serve
your guests.
• Find a recipe that you like on the Internet. Search for
“Thanksgiving stuffing” or “Thanksgiving dressing” on
the following sites:
– allrecipes.com (www.allrecipes.com)
– Betty Crocker (www.bettycrocker.com)
– Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com)
• After you find a recipe that you like, adjust the amount
of ingredients in the original recipe so that it enough to
serve your guests. (Note: You must submit the original
recipe with your presentation.)

Problem Five: Following the
Recipe
• The mashed potato recipe that you are using calls
for the following ratios of ingredients:
– 1 ½ lbs yukon gold potatoes: 4 servings
– 1 Tbsp butter: 2 servings
– 1 Tbsp heavy cream: 1 serving
– ½ Tbsp milk: 2 servings
– 1 ½ Tsp salt: 4 servings
• Using ratios and proportions, figure out how
much you need of each ingredient to make
enough mashed potatoes for your guests.

Problem Six: Turkey
• Buying and cooking a turkey can be a dilemma in
itself, sometimes!
• Consider the following before choosing your
turkey from the chart below to purchase (Make
sure you can justify your purchase!):
– Weight: Rule of thumb is 1 lb – 1.5 lb for every 1
guest.
Turkey Size Price
10 lbs $13.99
12 lbs $15.99
15 lbs $19.99
20 lbs $27.99

Problem Seven: Desserts
• You made three pies for your guests.
• Based on the number of guests that
you have invited, how can you
equally divide the pies so that the
following statements are true? (Both
statements are required to be
solved.):
– Each guest can have 2 slices (one of
the same or one of two different
varieties).
– There is less than ⅔ of the pies
remaining after each person has at
least 1 piece.
• You may consider creating a diagram
to illustrate your solutions.

Putting it All Together
• The student will present all inquiries and
solutions to each Thanksgiving Dinner
Dilemma in a multimedia presentation
(PowerPoint, Prezi, YouTube video, etc.).
• Student should include the Internet resources
he used in each WebQuest-based problem.
• Student will be assessed on his understanding
and application of the math standards (see
rubric on Slide 10)


Teacher Tips
• Get families involved! Many students watch their
families prepare this annual feast but do not realize the
math and problem-solving that is involved! Parents and
guardians should be encouraged to guide and monitor
their students to help them find success!
• If you want this project done (with time to spare)
before Turkey Day, make sure you give your students at
least 2 weeks before Thanksgiving break to finish this
assignment. During that time, formatively assess
student productivity and understanding.
• Allow students to work in small groups on this project-
based learning assignment.
• Foster independent thinking!

Math Rubric Part I
Standards 4 3 2 1
Student demonstrates
Student shows mastery in
competency in
creating visual models to
multiplying fractions and Student’s solutions are Student is unable to solve
demonstrate the
mixed numbers to: affected by minor one or both of the
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.6 relationship of multiplying
* Determine lbs of turkey calculation errors in one of problems due to inability
improper fractions and
needed (Problem 6) the two problems. to multiply fractions.
their equivalent mixed
*Determine practical division
numbers.
of desserts (Problem 7)
Student poses multiple
Student successfully divides Student demonstrates
ways to successfully divide Student is unable to meet
desserts to meet inability to meet one of the
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.B.7c desserts while meeting both requirements
requirements posted in requirements posted in
requirements posted in posted in Problem 7.
Problem 7. Problem 7.
Problem 7.
Student shares all findings; is
Student ‘s presentation Student ‘s presentation
Student compares prices able to use knowledge of
reflects some prices of the only gives the prices of
for at least one utensil in a decimals and money to
utensils and retailers that the utensils and retailers
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A.3 diagram or chart to reflect compare prices – and choose
they chose. Their ability to that they selected,
the value of one cent, ten the lowest price – of the
compare decimals is not reflecting their inability to
cents, one dollar, etc. kitchen utensils while
clearly evident. compare decimals.
shopping online.
Student displays multiple
scenarios (# of cans Student is unable to solve
Student successfully Student’s solutions for
purchased) to show how Problem 3 due to an
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.B.7 determines the best bargain Problem 3 are affected by
the amount purchased can inability to add/multiply
in Problem 3. minor calculation errors.
be influenced by a sale decimals.
price.


Math Rubric Part II
Standards 4 3 2 1
Student converts
measurements for two Student clearly
Student’s conversions Student’s conversions
stuffing recipes and demonstrates ability to
contain minor calculation contain large errors that
CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.A.1 evaluates the better convert measurements in a
errors (would not change would impact the adjusted
recipe based on total standard recipe (Problem
end result of stuffing). recipe.
time, estimated price of 4).
ingredients, etc.

Student will justify the Student demonstrates
turkey they purchased comprehension of ratio to Student demonstrates Student is unable to solve
based on ratio and any determine the amount adequate understanding of Problem 6 due to the
other factors taken into (pounds) of turkey that is ratio relationships. inability to describe a ratio.
consideration. needed.

Student illustrates the
proportional relationship of
ingredients in Problem 4. Student shows adequate Student is unable to solve
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3 Student uses a graph or
understanding of rate Problem 4 or Problem 5 due
& chart to illustrate that
Student is able to display reasoning and proportions to an inability to use rate
CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.2 two recipes are
the ratio relationships despite making a few reasoning or define
proportional.
between ingredients calculation errors. proportions.
needed for his recipe in
Problem 5.
Student displays multiple
scenarios (# of cans Student successfully Student is unable to solve
Student’s solutions for
purchased) to show how determines the best bargain Problem 3 due to an
CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.3 Problem 3 are affected by
the amount purchased by determining the percent inability to calculate
minor calculation errors.
can be influenced by a of a number in Problem 3. percents.
sale price.


WebQuest Summary
• Why a WebQuest?
– Student-centered
– Project-based Learning (PBL)
– Interactive with technology
– Creates opportunities for literacy in a math classroom
– Fun for students!
• Don’t forget to score your students on their
creativity and presentation format!
• Make sure the teacher has fun, too!
• Like this WebQuest? Want more? E-mail
thatmathlady@gmail.com with your requests!

Thanksgiving Dinner Dilemma

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