Germs Make Me Sick by Melvin Berger

Mathematical Strand:

Number and Operation

Topic:

Patterns, doubling sequence of the power of two

Grade Level:

4-6

Lesson Created by:

Karen Franz, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, Manhattan, KS

Lesson Description:

Materials:

• calculator, Germs Make Me Sick by Melvin Berger or "Reading Rainbow" video: Germs Make Me Sick
  

1. Launching the Lesson

1. Read the story or watch the video
   
2. Talk about how long it takes for bacteria to multiply (20 minutes for some fast growing ones).
   

2. Developing the Lesson

1. Pose the question: If you would have only one bad bacteria enter your body, how long do you think it would take for it to multiply into 1 million bacteria? Have students estimate the time.
   
2. Demonstrate the doubling sequence of the power of 2, both with pencil and paper, and with a calculator.
   
3. Have students work in pairs, first doubling each number with pencil and paper, and checking it with a calculator.
   
4. Record the data, using a T chart.
   

3. Closure/Discussion/Elaboration

1. After students understand the concept of doubling, introduce a new problem, using a different unit of measurement.
   

Sample: Paul Bunyan found a one foot snake that would triple its

length every hour. How long would the snake be after one day?

• Can you convert the feet to miles?
  
• Encourage students to make their own questions.