Grade
4
Math in Our World: Let Sleeping Bears Lie
Like other bears, black bears hibernate when the weather is cold. How long do they sleep? It depends on where they live.
| Location | Approximate length of hibernation |
|---|---|
| Canada | 240 days |
| Alaska | 7 months |
| Mexico | 72 hours |
| California | 120 days |
- Use pictures, models, or numbers to show what is happening.
- What do you notice? What do you wonder?
- What math questions can you ask about this situation? Answer all the questions you can!
- How can you compare the times spent hibernating? There are two times in days, but the others are in hours and months.
- Where do black bears hibernate the longest? How do you know?
Show your work to someone else, and explain your thinking. Did they understand?
Ask whether they have any other questions you can answer!
How do your outside activities change because of the weather? How many hours a day do you spend outside in the summer? What about during a colder season or a rainy season? Estimate the time you spend outside for 1 month during two different seasons. Then use numbers to describe how your time outside changes.
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Reference for Educators
Sample problems and solutions