Spaghetti and
Meatballs for All! A Mathematical Story
Book Review by Noeleen McGrath
Title: Spaghetti and Meatballs
for All! A Mathematical Story
Author: Marilyn Burns
Recommended Grade Level: 4,5,6
Common Core Standards
Addressed:
CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.3
Grade 4, Measurement and Data.
Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of
measurements.
Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world
and mathematical problems.
For example, find the width of a
rectangular room given the area of the flooring and the length, by viewing
the area formula as a multiplication
equation with an unknown factor.
In Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! A Mathematical Story written by Marilyn Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Comfort invite 32 family members and friends for a reunion and set eight square tables to seat four people at each, one to a side. As guests arrive, they all have their own ideas about how to rearrange the tables so that different-size groups can sit together. Mrs. Comfort protests, knowing that there will be seating problems later, but her protests are ignored. It all works out in the end, however, when Mrs. Comfort was proved right after all.
Rating:
I give this book a 4. I found this to be a fun, enjoyable book that incorporates everyday issues and problem solving skills into the math lesson.
Students will be able to see how area and perimeter function
in real life situations. I would use
this book in a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade math class.
Classroom Ideas:
Use small square tiles so that children can construct the
different ways the guests in the story arranged the tables. Help children experiment so they can see that
Mrs. Comfort ordered the fewest tables possible.
Go through the book and help the children draw a picture of each
new table rearrangement and figure out how many people could be seated at
each. Use the words area and perimeter
to talk about the size of each arrangement and the number of people it seats.
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