This is the question students explore as they pass around small bags of cereal and try to discern which one weighs one ounce. Students then use computation skills, problem solving and number sense to find the cost of an ounce of cereal. Students compare the cost per ounce of a variety of cereals and then speculate as to the reasons for the different prices. Students then utilize similar strategies in determining the price per chip for bags of snacks and make comparisons. Activity Sheets are located at the bottom of the .pdf Lesson Plan.
Procedure Begin the lesson by surveying the class to see how many students have eaten cereal.
Ask students to identify the types of information that can be found on the front of a cereal box. Show the class a 15 ounce box of cereal and ask a student to read the weight of the product from the front panel of the box. Divide the class into groups of four. Give each group three plastic bags of cereal. In one bag place exactly an ounce, in the second bag place more than an ounce, and in the third bag place less than one ounce of the cereal.