Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!
A Mathematical Story

Author: Marilyn Burns

Publisher/Date: Scholastic Press, 1997

ISBN: 0-590-94459-2

Grade Levels Recommended for Use: 6-8

Brief Summary: A couple decides to invite family and friends over for a party with a menu of spaghetti and meatballs. They invite 32 friends and family. In order to accommodate the guests, they come up with an arrangement of eight tables, seating four people per table. The guests arrive and rearrange the tables; the result is comical with a surprise ending.

Topics: perimeter, area, arrangements

Suggested Activities: perimeter, area, arrangements

1. Write the definitions of perimeter and area on the board or chart paper for the students to refer to. Hand out small squares so students can construct the different ways the guests can arranged the tables while reading the story to the class. The story may involve two readings, one for pleasure and one to do the activity. Have the students work in pairs. For each arrangement have the students identify the area (square units) for each arrangement the guests made ate the party. Have them identify how many people could sit at each table for each arrangement (perimeter).

2. After the students have explored the various seating arrangements for the 32 guests, have the students come up with different arrangements for 12, 24, or 48 guests.

3. Have the students illustrate the different table arrangements for the invited guests using graph paper to draw, color and label the area and perimeter arrangements.

4. After the students have illustrated area and perimeter graphically, have them work area and perimeter problems on their paper using the mathematical formula. Demonstrate the process with drawings on the board before the students work the problems on their paper.

5. Have the students write one area and one perimeter problem on an index card. Collect the cards to be used in a math center or compile a class "math problem" book with student's word problems they have created throughout the school year.