Tally Perfect? - Critical Thinking Questions

After the class data sheet has been completed and analyzed, the Tally Perfect? extension questions can be used as a discussion to extend learning.
 

1) What could explain the reason why the number of chocolate chips varied from student to student in your own class?

Possible theories:

Students may have counted every sliver of chocolate.

Students may have counted only larger chips, not including the pieces.

Students may have left some chocolate chips inside of the cookie and undercounted.

Students may not have separated the chocolate chips if they were connected.

Cookies may have been different diameters.

Cookies may have been different weights.

Possible theories:

• Placing the cookie inside the plastic bag and crushing it with your hand.
• Placing a book on top of the cookie sealed inside a plastic bag.
• Use a rolling pin to crush the cookie inside a plastic bag.
• Softening up the cookie first to allow the chocolate chips to be easily separated.

3) Do you think that our class results will be similar or different when compared to the other submissions on the web?  Explain.

Possible theories:

• The number of chocolate chips varies from state to state, etc.

4) Do you think the number of chocolate chips vary per brand? Explain.

Possible theories:

• Different brands of cookies vary their cookie size.
• Not all brands use the same brand of chips, varying chip size from brand to brand.
• Not all cookies have the same weight.