Illuminations: Numbers and Language

Numbers and Language

Sports Numbers

Students are familiar with sports and sporting events. Whole numbers and fractions are used to represent the size of groups or collections and measurements involving lengths, weights, and times in many sporting and game situations. This knowledge can be used to give the students another picture of numbers.

Learning Objectives
 
Students will:
  • discuss, describe, read, and write about whole numbers, decimals, common fractions, or percents
  • use sports and sporting events to identify and describe various uses of numbers

Materials
 
Sports Numbers Activity Sheet

Instructional Plan

Begin the class discussion by asking students how numbers are used in sports. Brainstorm ideas on the overhead or chalkboard.

Students may respond by suggesting some of the following uses of sports numbers:

  • baseball statistics
  • winning times for the Olympics
  • time needed to run a marathon
  • football scores
  • and so on

 

Distribute a copy of the Sports Numbers activity sheet to each student.

Sports Numbers Activity Sheet

Ask students to tell what they see in each of the scenes on the sheet. Tell the students to look at the pictures and find examples of the use of numbers.

 


 

Spend enough time talking about the picture and the students' knowledge of sports so that students describe as many different ways as possible of using numbers. In each instance ask the students to describe how the number is being used.

The following observations can be made for the sporting events identified by each picture:

a. Basketball

  • number of players
  • position in line-up
  • dimensions of the court
  • height of the basket
  • diameter and circumference of the ball
  • time remaining in game
  • fractions of play
  • team's statistics

b. Indoor track

  • lengths of races
  • runners' times
  • weights of objects thrown
  • lengths of objects thrown

c. Swimming

  • lengths of pool or races
  • swimmers' times
  • scoring of points
  • height of diving board

d. Board games

  • dimensions of spaces on various playing boards (Chinese checkers, etc.)
  • scoring of games

 

After students complete the activity sheet, they can pair up with a partner and compare their responses to each of the four pictures.

Next, students should (individually) pick one number (from one of the four pictures) and write a description of how that number is used. After students have written their descriptions, they may once again share them with a partner.

Bring the class back together. Ask students to identify each of the following types of numbers in the sports pictures:

  • whole numbers
  • decimals
  • fractions
  • percents

You may wish to record these examples on chart paper and post them around the classroom.

Note: If you prefer to print in black and white, you may access a printer-friendly version of the Sports Numbers activity sheet.

Sports Numbers Activity Sheet (B&W Version) Sports Numbers Activity Sheet (B&W Version)

Extensions
 
  1. Describe the size of a basketball court, the length of the swimming pool, or the distances of some races in terms of the area or length of the classroom.  

  2. Have the students research local and world records for selected sports events, for example, the local and world records for the 100-meter race. Have them write a short report of their findings.

NCTM Standards and Expectations
 
Number & Operations 3-5
  1. Recognize equivalent representations for the same number and generate them by decomposing and composing numbers.

References
 

  • Calvin Irons and Rosemary Irons. "IDEAS: Numbers and Language." The Arithmetic Teacher. January, 1993, 40, 5. p 264 - 77.
  
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NCTM Resources

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Thinkfinity Verizon Foundation
More and Better Mathematics for All Students
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