3. Designed as “thought-revealing activities” for students (Lesh, et al, 2000)
“The problems that we face in our ever-changing increasingly global
society are multidisciplinary, and many require the integration of multiple
STEM concepts to solve them.” (Roehrig, Moore, Wang, & Park, 2012)
4. “The resultant student products reveal students’ thinking and provide both
teachers and researchers with a powerful lens for viewing students’
reasoning and concept development (Carlson, Larson, & Lesh,2003)
5. The models created include procedures for doing things and, more importantly, metaphors for
seeing or interpreting things (Mousoulides & English, 2011).
6. The activities are such that student teams of three to four express their mathematical model,
test it using sample data under the possible engineering constraints, and revise their
procedure to meet the needs of their client (Lesh and Doerr, 2003; Mousoulides et al. 2008).
7. Reading - Key Ideas and Details: Read closely
to determine what the text says explicitly and
to make logical inferences from it; . .
Reading - Integration of Knowledge and
Ideas: Integrate and evaluate information
presented in diverse media. . .
Speaking and Listening -
Comprehension and Collaboration:
Prepare for and participate effectively
in a range of conversations and
collaborations . . .
Speaking and Listening - Comprehension and Collaboration:
Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and
formats . . .
Speaking and Listening - Comprehension and
Collaboration: Evaluate a speaker’s point of
view, use of evidence . . .
Speaking and Listening – Presentation of Knowledge and
Ideas: Present information, findings, and supporting
evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning .
. .
Speaking and Listening – Presentation of
Knowledge and Ideas: Make strategic use of
digital media and visual displays of data to
express information and enhance
understanding of presentations.
10. Reading Passage 1
Dear Students,
Here at Thneed Inc. we have your thneed needs covered. We sell every kind
of thneed you need in every color. We have thneeds for adults, kids, and dogs.
We used to make our thneeds from the truffula trees. Our founder, Mr.
Oncler, started our company when he discovered that truffula tufts make much
softer, more comfortable thneeds than any other fabric on the market. The
thneeds were so wonderful and popular that soon the forest of truffula trees
was laid bare. This was bad news for the playful Bar-ba-loots frolicking in the
grass, graceful Swomee Swans gliding through the calm streams, and Humming
Fish singing their songs for all to hear. We are currently planting seeds to regrow
the truffula trees. truffula trees take a hundred years to grow, so we will need to
make thneeds from a different material. Our goal is to create a fully sustainable,
zero-waste production model.
We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester made from
recycled water bottles, silk, and wool. We want to be Earth friendly. That means
we do not want to do things that harm the Earth or the plants and animals that
live on it. We also want our thneeds to be soft and comfortable.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write back to us to let us
know which material would be best and how you chose that one.
Thank you for your help!
Mr. Lorax, CEO of Thneed Inc.
12. Letter Template 1
Dear Mr. Lorax,
We think that the most important category to
consider is______________________________.
We decided that you should make your thneeds
from ________________________________
because________________________________.
The way we made this decision
was____________________________________
13. Reading Passage 2
Dear Students,
Thank you so much for writing back to me!
What everyone needs (besides thneeds) is a Truffula tree
so that the brown bar-ba-loots
can play beneath them and eat the Truffula fruits.
The Humming fish will come back and splash around
making the comforting humming sound.
We need to make money to buy land
So we can plant trees and give the Lorax a hand.
Please look at the cart we provided for you
and help us decide just what to do.
15. Letter Template 2
We think that the most important category to
consider is______________________________.
We decided that you should make your thneeds
from ________________________________
because_______________________________.
We did/did not change our procedure
because________________________________
18. Reading Passage 1
Here at Thneed Inc. we have your thneed needs covered. We sell every kind of
thneed you need in every color. We have thneeds for adults, kids, and dogs.
We used to make our thneeds from the tuffula trees. Our founder, Mr.
Oncler, started our company when he discovered that tuffula tufts make much
softer, more comfortable thneeds than any other fabric on the market. The
thneeds were so wonderful and popular that soon the forest of tuffula trees
was laid bare. This was bad news for the playful Bar-ba-loots frolicking in the
grass, graceful Swomee Swans gliding through the calm streams, and Humming
Fish singing their songs for all to hear. We are currently planting seeds to regrow
the tuffula trees. Tuffula trees take a hundred years to grow, so we will need to
make thneeds from a different material. Our goal is to create a fully sustainable,
zero-waste production model.
We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester made from
recycled water bottles, silk, and wool. We want to be Earth friendly. We have a
problem with soil eroding away slowly over time. It would be nice if we could do
something to stop the soil from eroding away. We also want our thneeds to be
soft and comfortable.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write back to us to let
us know which material would be best and how you chose that one.
21. Letter Template 1
Dear _________________________________,
The price of fabric for thneeds from lowest cost
to highest is:
________< ______< ________< _______
Our team, __________________________,
has determined the following procedure for
ranking: The order that we ranked our choices
from highest to lowest is:
22. Reading Passage 2
Thank you so much for writing back to me!
Onceler reminded me that when cloths, such as thneeds,
get worn, or stained. Or badly torn people throw them
away. The problem is some of that trash does not
decompose, or biodegrade – it will stay and stay. That is
sad news for the Lorax who does not like trash to pile up
and up. Please look at the new data and consider which
fabrics will biodegrade (decompose) and which will not.
I have also changed the last column of the graph to show
the amount of money we will profit from selling 10
thneeds.
Please look at this new data and tell us if you have
changed your decision or if it is the same.
24. Letter Template 2
Dear _________________________________,
Our team,
____________________________________________,
has determined the following procedure for ranking:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not) change. (If
procedure changed, explain how and why. If procedure
did not change, explain why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from highest to
lowest is:
27. Reading Passage 1
Here at Thneed Inc. we have your thneed needs covered. We sell every kind of thneed
you need in every color. We have thneeds for adults, kids, and dogs.
We used to make our thneeds from the tuffula trees. Our founder, Mr. Oncler, started
our company when he discovered that tuffula tufts make much softer, more comfortable
thneeds than any other fabric on the market. The thneeds were so wonderful and popular
that soon the forest of tuffula trees was laid bare. This was bad news for the playful Bar-ba-
loots frolicking in the grass, graceful Swomee Swans gliding through the calm streams, and
Humming Fish singing their songs for all to hear. We are currently planting seeds to regrow
the tuffula trees. Tuffula trees take a hundred years to grow, so we will need to make
thneeds from a different material. Our goal is to create a fully sustainable, zero-waste
production model.
We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester made from recycled water
bottles, silk, and wool. We want to be Earth friendly. When cloths, such as thneeds, get
worn, or stained. Or badly torn people throw them away. The problem is some of that trash
does not decompose, or biodegrade – it will stay and stay. That is sad news for the Lorax
who does not like trash to pile up and up. Please look at the new data and consider which
fabrics will biodegrade (decompose) and which will not.. We have a problem with soil
eroding away slowly over time. It would be nice if we could do something to stop the soil
from eroding away. We also want our thneeds to be soft and comfortable.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write back to us to let us know
which material would be best and how you chose that one.
31. Reading Passage 2
Thank you for your help. As you know, things will
not change unless someone like you cares an awful
lot. The hard work you have done shows that you
do care.
I want to use the profits made from selling thneeds
to help regrow the truffula trees. The more money I
make, the more trees I can plant.
Can you look at the data chart and consider the
profit that can be made from each type of fabric?
Please let me know if this changes your procedure
or your decision at all.
33. Letter Template 2
Our team,
__________________________________________
__, has determined the following procedure for
ranking:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not) change. (If
procedure changed, explain how and why. If
procedure did not change, explain why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from highest
to lowest is:
______________________________________
______, has determined the following
procedure for ranking:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not)
change. (If procedure changed, explain how
and why. If procedure did not change, explain
why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from
35. Reading Passage 1:
Here at Thneed Inc. we have your thneed needs covered. We sell every kind of
thneed you need in every color. We have thneeds for adults, kids, and dogs.
We used to make our thneeds from the truffula trees. Our founder, Mr.
Oncler, started our company when he discovered that truffula tufts make much
softer, more comfortable thneeds than any other fabric on the market. The
thneeds were so wonderful and popular that soon the forest of truffula trees
was laid bare. This was bad news for the playful Bar-ba-loots frolicking in the
grass, graceful Swomee Swans gliding through the calm streams, and Humming
Fish singing their songs for all to hear. We are currently planting seeds to regrow
the truffula trees. Truffula trees take a hundred years to grow, so we will need to
make thneeds from a different material. Our goal is to create a fully sustainable,
zero-waste production model.
We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester made from
recycled water bottles, silk, and wool. We want to be Earth friendly. It would be
nice if we could do something to stop the soil from eroding away. Thneed inc.
would like to be able to have good soil for planting tufulla trees in the future. We
also want our thneeds to be soft and comfortable.
We want to make a profit from selling our thneeds so we can donate money
to the truffula tree planting club. Please round the cost per 100 square meters of
fabric to the nearest $100 and create a graph of the rounded cost to make it
easier for us (especially the barbaloots) to understand.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write back to us to let us
know which material would be best and how you chose that one.
36. Data Set 1
Softness Soil Erosion
Cost per 100
square meters of
fabric.
Cost per 100 square meters
of fabric rounded to the
nearest $100.
Cotton
Can be soft and smooth
or rough, depending on
the weave.
Cotton production is
one of the leading
causes of soil erosion. $927
Silk
Exceptionally smooth
and soft to the touch.
Planting mulberry
trees to feed silk
worms can prevent soil
erosion.
$1,861
Wool
The softness of wool
depends on the quality.
Very soft wool can be
expensive, cheap wool
can be scratchy
If sheep are not given
a large enough area to
roam they may
overgraze an area and
cause soil erosion.
$1, 469
Polyester from
recycled plastic
Can be somewhat
soft when it is made
into fleece. Many
Polyester fabrics feel
rough or plastic like.
No effect on soil
erosion.
$748
37. Letter Template 1
Dear _________________________________,
Our team,
_______________________________________,
has attached our graph of the prices and
determined the following procedure for ranking:
The order that we ranked our choices from
highest to lowest is:
38. Reading Passage 2
Some raw materials use more energy than others to become fabric.
Energy is used to heat some of the materials, it is also used to run the
machines that spin the yarn, dye the yarn, and weave the cloth. Most
of the energy used in factories today causes pollution. The Humming-
Fish are very concerned about pollution getting into their pond, so we
are trying to use as little energy as possible.
Kilowatts and kilowatt-hours are useful for measuring amounts of
electricity. Kilowatt-hours are what show up on your electricity bill,
describing how much electricity you have used. New, energy-efficient
refrigerators use about 300-400 kilowatt-hours per year. The typical
American home uses about 7,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity each
year.
Please show the kilowatts used to make 100 square meters of fabric on
a graph. Use the data we gave you before plus the energy usage data
to let us know which fabric it would be best for us to use.
39. Data Set 2
Softness Soil Erosion
Cost per 100
square meters of
fabric rounded
to the nearest
100.
Energy
Consumption Kw
(to produce 100
square meters of
fabric)
Energy
Consumption
Kw rounded to
the nearest 100
Cotton
Can be soft and smooth
or rough, depending on
the weave.
Cotton production is
one of the leading
causes of soil erosion. $900 387 KW
Silk Exceptionally smooth
and soft to the touch.
Planting mulberry trees
to feed silk worms can
prevent soil erosion. $1,800 1142 kW
Wool
The softness of wool
depends on the quality.
Very soft wool can be
expensive, cheap wool
can be scratchy
If sheep are not given
a large enough area to
roam they may
overgraze an area and
cause soil erosion.
$1, 500 187 kW
Polyester
from
recycled
plastic
Can be somewhat soft
when it is made into
fleece. Many
Polyester fabrics feel
rough or plastic like.
No effect on soil
erosion.
$700 332 kW
40. Letter Template 2
Our team,
____________________________________________,
has attached our graph of the energy usage and
determined the following procedure for ranking for
fabrics:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not) change. (If
procedure changed, explain how and why. If procedure
did not change, explain why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from highest to
lowest is:
42. Reading Passage 1
Here at Thneed Inc. we have your thneed needs covered. We sell every kind of thneed
you need in every color. We have thneeds for adults, kids, and dogs.
We used to make our thneeds from the truffula trees. Our founder, Mr. Oncler,
started our company when he discovered that truffula tufts make much softer, more
comfortable thneeds than any other fabric on the market. The thneeds were so
wonderful and popular that soon the forest of truffula trees was laid bare. This was bad
news for the playful Bar-ba-loots frolicking in the grass, graceful Swomee Swans gliding
through the calm streams, and Humming Fish singing their songs for all to hear. We are
currently planting seeds to regrow the truffula trees. Truffula trees take a hundred years
to grow, so we will need to make thneeds from a different material. Our goal is to create
a fully sustainable, zero-waste production model.
We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester made from recycled water
bottles, silk, and wool. We want to be Earth friendly so we want to limit the amount of
energy we consume. We like to use recycled and biodegradable materials if possible. It
would be nice if we could do something to stop the soil from eroding away. Thneed Inc.
would like to be able to have good soil for planting truffula trees in the future. We also
want our thneeds to be soft and comfortable.
We want to make a profit from selling our thneeds so we can donate money to the
truffula tree planting club. Please round the cost per 100 square meters of fabric to the
nearest $100 and create a graph of the rounded cost to make it easier for us (especially
the bar-ba-loots) to understand.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write back to us to let us know
which material would be best and how you chose that one.
43. Will it
decompose
when thrown
away?
Soil Erosion
Energy
Consumptio
n Kw (to
produce 10
square
meters of
fabric)
Cost per 10
square
meters of
fabric.
Cost to make one
thneed. (1 thneed is
made from 1 square
meter of fabric)
Cotton
Yes
Cotton production is
one of the leading
causes of soil
erosion.
40 kW $90
Silk
Yes
Planting mulberry
trees to feed silk
worms can prevent
soil erosion.
110 kW
$180
Wool Yes
If sheep are not
given a large enough
area to roam they
may overgraze an
area and cause soil
erosion.
20 kW
$150
Polyester
from
recycled
plastic
No No effect on soil
erosion.
30 kW
$70
44. Letter Template 1
Our team,
____________________________________________,
has determined the following procedure for ranking:
The order that we ranked our choices from highest to
lowest is:
Furthermore, the category which we considered to be
most important was
Because
45. Reading Passage 2
We are able to get a discount if we buy 100 square meters of
fabric at a time. Please look at the new prices in the data table
and recalculate the cost of producing one thneed.
Some raw materials use more energy than others to become
fabric. Energy is used to heat some of the materials, it is also
used to run the machines that spin the yarn, dye the yarn, and
weave the cloth. We are trying to use as little energy as possible.
Kilowatts and kilowatt-hours are useful for measuring amounts
of electricity. Kilowatt-hours are what show up on your
electricity bill, describing how much electricity you have used.
One kilowatt (kW) equals 1,000 watts, and one kilowatt-hour
(kWh) is one hour of using electricity at a rate of 1,000 watts.
New, energy-efficient refrigerators use about 300-400 kilowatt-
hours per year. The typical American home uses about 7,200
kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
Please show the kilowatts used to make 100 square meters of
fabric on the data chart and consider the energy used when you
make your recommendation.
46. Data Set 2
Will it decompose
when thrown
away?
Soil Erosion Energy
Consumption Kw
(to produce 10
square meters of
fabric)
Energy
Consumption Kw
(to produce 100
square meters of
fabric)
Cost per 100
square meters
of fabric.
Cotton
Yes
Cotton production
is one of the
leading causes of
soil erosion.
46 kW $800
Silk
Yes
Planting mulberry
trees to feed silk
worms can
prevent soil
erosion.
118 kW $1,600
Wool
Yes
If sheep are not
given a large
enough area to
roam they may
overgraze an area
and cause soil
erosion.
29 kW $1,400
Polyester
from
recycled
plastic
No
No effect on soil
erosion.
35 kW $600
47. Letter Template 2
Our team, _______________________________,
has determined the following procedure for
ranking:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not) change. (If
procedure changed, explain how and why. If
procedure did not change, explain why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from highest
to lowest is:
49. Reading Passage 1
…We are considering four types of fabric: cotton, polyester
made from recycled water bottles, silk, and wool. We want to
be Earth friendly so we want to limit the amount of energy we
consume. We like to use recycled and biodegradable materials
if possible. It would be nice if we could do something to stop
the soil from eroding away. Thneed Inc. would like to be able
to have good soil for planting truffula trees in the future. We
also want our thneeds to be soft and comfortable.
We want to make a profit from selling our thneeds so we
can donate money to the truffula tree planting club. Please
find out what it would cost to make one thneed from each
fabric. People will pay more for better quality fabrics, but will
also buy more thneeds if the thneeds can be sold for a lower
price.
Please look at the data table we have provided and write
back to us to let us know which material would be best and
how you chose that one.
50. Data Set 1Will it
decompose
when thrown
away?
Soil Erosion Energy
Consumption
Kw (to produce
10 square
meters of fabric)
Cost for
1 bolt of
fabric
Number of
thneeds
that can be
made with 1
bolt of
fabric
Cost to
make
one
thneed.
Cotton Yes
Cotton production
is one of the
leading causes of
soil erosion.
46 kW $225 25 9
Silk
Yes
Planting mulberry
trees to feed silk
worms can prevent
soil erosion.
118 kW $992 31 32
Wool
Yes
If sheep are not
given a large
enough area to
roam they may
overgraze an area
and cause soil
erosion.
29 kW $273 13 21
Polyester from
recycled plastic
No
No effect on soil
erosion. 35 kW $275 25 11
51. Letter Template 2
Our team, _____________________________,
has determined the following procedure for
ranking:
The order that we ranked our choices from
highest to lowest is:
Furthermore, the category which we considered
to be most important was
Because
52. Reading Passage 2
Thank you for the information that you provided. This will
really help us to decide which type of materials we will use.
We have another problem we need your help with. In
addition to the cost of the fabrics, we have to pay for the
energy used to produce the fabric. The energy comes as a
separate bill, and effects the cost of a thneed. We pay 15
cents per kilowatt hour for the energy used to make the
fabric. Please let us know the adjusted cost per thneed.
People are becoming more environmentally aware and
will not buy products if they are harmful to the environment.
People like to pay lower prices for items, but will pay more
for better quality. All of this makes it difficult for us to make a
decision as to which fabric to use. Please consider all of these
factors and let us know which fabric you think would make
the best-selling thneeds.
53. Energy
Consumption
Kw (to
produce 10
square meters
of fabric)
Cost for 1
bolt of
fabric
Number of
thneeds that can
be made with 1
bolt of fabric
Cost of fabric
to make one
thneed.
Kw cost per
thneed
Cotton 46 kW $225 25
Silk
118 kW $992 31
Wool
29 kW $273 13
Polyester
from
recycled
plastic
35 kW $275 25
54. Letter Template 2
Our team, ______________________________________,
has determined the following procedure for ranking:
Our procedure for ranking (did / did not) change. (If
procedure changed, explain how and why. If procedure did
not change, explain why not).
The order that we ranked our choices from highest to lowest
is:
The total cost per thneed when we add in the energy cost is:
Silk Wool
Cotton Polyester
