Counting On Frank

Posted by: Ginette Valentin

Author & Illustrator: Rod Clement

Recommended Grade Level: 4^th – 6^th grade

Common Core Content Standards Addressed

Convert like measurement units within a given measurement system.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.MD.A.1

Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.

Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.MD.C.3
Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of volume measurement.

Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NF.A.1
Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

*Students should make sense of the story line and understand the problem. The mathematics behind this story.

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP3

Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

*students should understand and use stated assumptions, definitions, and previously established results in constructing arguments. They should make conjectures and build a logical progression of statements to explore the truth of their conjectures. 

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4 

Model with mathematics

*students can apply the mathematics they know to solve problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace. In early grades, this might be as simple as writing an addition equation to describe a situation. In middle grades, a student might apply proportional reasoning to plan a school event or analyze a problem in the community.

Summary

An unconventional boy who uses facts, figures, and his own wild imagination to make math fun. This young man has a unique way of looking at the world and loves to examine the art of counting, size perception, and mathematical facts through looking at an object and guessing how many it would take to fill a room or how big it would need to be if it was the same size as something else. The boy uses his dog Frank as a unit of measure. The boy also calculates fascinating and interesting facts about peas (his least favorite vegetable), humpback whales, his father and the bathtub.

Rating 

This is definitely a 5 star book, it is a fun way to help students experiment with math problems and applying it to real world situations. They will remember this long after the story is over. There is even a section in the back where students can answer questions related to the story and then hold up the book to the mirror to see the answers. 

Classroom Ideas

1        This is a great book for estimation and volume, more for upper elementary. Before beginning the story, you could have students brainstorm what they already know about humpback whales. Then come back together as a class and discuss what you know. The teacher can then bring out more facts on humpback whales that he or she have already looked up. Have students to use critical thinking to infer what size do they think a humpback whale is?" The students should explain how they came up with their estimations. Then read aloud the book to the class, and then have students work in their small groups to answer questions. Provide the students with questions such as, "How big is the boy's house?" or "since we know the size of a humpback whale, if 10 humpback whales fit into a house like Frank's, how many would fit into 3 houses like Frank's?" or "About how many humpback whales could fit in your school? Explain how you determined your answer." Then come back together as a group to discuss the student’s answers and their reasoning.

2        You could also do an activity with your students after reading this book by asking them to estimate the link or size of different things around the classroom using a nonstandard form of measurements such as jelly beans or pencil erasers etc.