Bottle ups
This is a level 4 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It is focused on finding fractions of a litre and converting fractions to decimals. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers' notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Find fractions of a litre.
- Convert fractions to decimals.
Bottle ups
Achievement objectives
NA4-5: Know the equivalent decimal and percentage forms for everyday fractions.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Level 3–4, Number, Book 1, "Bottle ups", page 10
- 1 litre bottles, a measuring jug, scissors, marker pen, water
- a classmate
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- Bottle ups activity (.pdf)
Activity
Activity 1
The students can use their measuring jug or cylinder to measure out the amounts for the marks on their bottle in question 2. Dividing the height into eighths will not work because it does not allow for the varying diameter of the bottle.
The measuring jugs are more likely to be marked in millilitres than in eighths, so the students will need to calculate how many millilitres there are in 1/8 of a litre, 1/4 of a litre, and so on. Allow them to investigate various ways of marking their bottles. The easiest way is to fill the measuring jug to the required level (for example, 1/8 of a litre or 125 millilitres), pour this into the bottle, and mark the level. (Note: The symbol for litre is L and that for millilitres is mL.)
In question 3, the students divide 1 litre of water evenly between three 1 litre bottles to find the 1/3 and 2/3 marks. They need to measure out 1 litre because if they just fill the bottle up, it will be more than a litre. The three bottles need to be the same shape. Make sure they do not use the measuring jug for this part. Measuring between three bottles will help them realise that 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/3.
When they predict what 1/3 of a litre is in millilitres, they will probably realise that 1 litre, or 1 000 millilitres, doesn’t divide evenly into three, so the answer will not be a whole number. (The difference is very small.)
Activity 2
In this activity, students need to take into account the way the shape of the bottle affects the water level.
For example,
- 500 millilitres in the bottle on the left will be less than halfway up the bottle because the bottle is much wider at the bottom than the top.
Those students who are having difficulty in visualising could experiment by putting the same amount of water into different-shaped bottles and comparing the water levels. Encourage the students to use logic and reasoning to answer the question before they model it in a practical exercise. (This activity links with investigations in science.)
Activity 1
1.
Practical activity
2.
a. Answers will vary, but the students will probably discuss how they could convert the fractions of 1 L into mL, measure these mL amounts of water in the measuring jug, pour the water into the inverted bottle, and then mark the levels.
b. Practical activity
3.
Practical activity. You would mark your fuel tank by pouring in the contents of one of the bottles, marking the level as 1/3, and then pouring in the contents of one of the other bottles to find the 2/3 mark. (The third bottle is to help you separate the thirds.)
4.
Predictions should be approximately 333 mL and 666 mL.
Activity 2
Practical activity. Answers may vary, but the levels should be similar to:
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