Title of Book:
Author:
Publisher/Year:
ISBN:
Each Orange Had 8 Slices
Paul Giganti, Jr.
Greenwillow Books/1992
978-0-688-10428-2
Grade Levels for Recommended Use: 3th Grade
TEKS: 3. (4) Number and operations. The student applies mathematical process
standards to develop and use strategies and methods for whole number
computations in order to solve problems with efficiency and accuracy. The
student is expected to:
(G) use strategies and algorithms, including the standard algorithm, to
multiply a two-digit number by a one-digit number. Strategies may include
mental math, partial products, and the commutative, associative, and
distributive properties;
Brief Summary: Each Orange Had 8 Slices does not follow any story. Each page offers
a scenario then the text describes the scene. The next page asks questions about what is
happening and how many objects there are total. This is a great book to introduce and
gives detailed story problems to help student understand the concept of multiplication.
For example if each orange has 8 slices and each slice has 2 seeds, how many seeds are
there in all? These scenarios are interesting and can catch the eye of the student because it
gives them life situations.
Materials needed:
 “Each Orange Had 8 Slices” book by Paul Giganti, Jr.
 An Apple
 Pencils, papers
 “Each Apple Had 8 Seeds?’ worksheet (attached)
Suggested Activity:
1. Hold up an apple and ask students if they have ever eaten an apple and counted
the seeds inside. Cut the apple into quarters and ask students how many equal
pieces there are.
2. Take the seeds out of one of the pieces and count them with the students. Ask
students to determine how many seeds would be in the apple if each piece has the
same number of seeds as the ones just counted. Allow students to determine the
answer by multiplication or repeated addition.
3. Students should have knowledge of multiplication facts as a prerequisite to
teaching this lesson. Students should know that multiplication is repeated
addition.
4. Pose the question “If I had six apples just like this one, how many seeds would
there are in all?” Have students give the number sentence required to answer this
question. Work the equation on the board with the students.
1 apple  8 seeds
6 apples  ? seeds
Equation:
8+8+8+8+8+8 = 48 seeds
8x6 = 48 seeds
5. Read the book, Each Orange Had 8 Slices, by Paul Giganti Jr., pausing to allow
the students to answer the questions posed on each page.
6. Explain that the students will illustrate their own multiplication stories using
the paper and the story template, which is similar to the format in the book.
7. Show the template transparency on the overhead projector and demonstrate
how students should write their own stories.
8. Invoke ideas from the students to fill in the blanks on the story template
transparency. Complete the template with the students and suggest ways it can be
illustrated. Encourage students to think of places, activities, animals, or things that
are familiar to them, which they can draw.
9. Have volunteers share their stories and illustrations with the class.
References: http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/Lessons/11126.htm
Adapted by: Tam Le (2013)
Name:________________________
Each Apple Had 8 Seeds
Story Template
On my way to the _________________,
I saw (1 digit number) ________, each _________ had
(1 digit number) ____________. On each _________
was (1 digit number) _________.
How many _________ were there? (Answer here)___
How many _________ were there? (Answer here)___
How many _________ were there? (Answer here)___
Illustrate your story below: