Activity #1

An activity to accompany

“Sir Cumference and the First Round Table”

by Cindy Neuschwander

Created By

Kim Hartikainen
 Thank you so much for downloading
this teacher-tested resource.
You may also be interested in the following:

Math Stories – Activity # 2

Math Stories – Activity # 3

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Permission to copy for classroom use only.
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©K. Hartikainen 2012

 How to use this Resource
Within this resource you will find an activity that has been created to be used with
the book, “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table” by Cindy Neuschwander. This
series of books is easily integrated within any Geometry unit. However, I think the theme
of this particular book is best used as a review of perimeter, and an introduction to
circles. Like any resource, how and when you choose to implement this activity depends
entirely on your own class.

Integrating literature of any kind into your math lesson is always a great change of
pace for your students. At first they might think it is strange to be reading in math, but by
the end they always enjoy it!

For this activity I only read up to page 7 on the first day. At this point I ask the
students to identify the problem Sir Cumference is dealing with, and tell them that they
need to help him find a solution. I provide each student with 3 pieces of brown
construction paper that I have cut into rectangles (5 cm x 20 cm OR 1” x 4”) to represent
the 5’ x 20’ wood table from the book. They need to cut and paste the paper any way they
can think of, to make a new shape that will be better suited to the knights’ discussions.
They are only allowed to use the amount of paper they have for each table (i.e. no taking
from one table to add to another), but they do not necessarily need to use it all. I tell the
students that we know how the story will likely end, given the title, so they are not
allowed to make a circular table. Their table must have edges that they can measure, to
determine the perimeter.

Once the students have finished creating their new tables I read the rest of the
book (usually the next day/class). After each new shape is revealed I stop to ask how
many students created the same one in the activity the previous day. At the end I also
invite students to share ones that were not mentioned in the book and the class votes on
the most creative table.

I have included an explanation of the activity for the students on the next page,
which is ready to be put on an overhead (optional). I have also included some samples to
help you out.

I hope you find this resource useful!

©K. Hartikainen 2012

 “Sir Cumference
and the First Round Table”

Problem:
What is the problem with the current table? Why is the King
unhappy with its shape?

5 feet

20 feet

Solution:
Can you construct a better table? What shapes do you think
would be better suited to the knights’ discussions?

In order to find a solution for the King you need to help Sir
Cumference create 3 different designs for a new table. However,
you can only use the amount of wood that you have from the old
table.

Once you have constructed the new tables, explain why it would
be a better table. You are also required to determine the
dimensions of each table and calculate the perimeter.

©K. Hartikainen 2012

Samples

©K. Hartikainen 2012