Mr. and Mrs. Comfort are having a family reunion. They have invited their friends and family over for spaghetti and meatballs. Thirty-two guests will be eating with the Comforts. With so many people coming, Mrs. Comfort plans out a seating arrangement and place settings so no one person is left out. As the guests arrive they begin moving the tables and chairs around. The guests move the tables and chairs around many times, making many shapes. By the time all the guests have arrived the tables and chairs end up back where they started. This book is a wonderful way to intorduce area and perimeter.

grade levels:  2nd and 3rd grade

follow-up activities:  

As a class, using sqaure wood blocks or tiles, go back through the book and make each table arrangement together. Have the students talk about what each size rectangle they make. Relate the shape to everyday uses.

Individually, have the students rearrange the blocks or tiles to fit a different number of guests. Give each student a different number. This will allow the students to work by themselves and explore different arrangements.

In groups, have students make a guest list with an assigned number of people. Then have students draw all the different ways the tables and chairs could be arranged. This allows the students to be as creative as they want. Also, have students color the picture arrangements and then decide what food will be served and if there will be a theme.

The possiblities with area and perimeter are endless. Just have fun!

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Math 3213