Title of Book:
Author:
Illustrator:
Publisher and Date:
ISBN:
One Hundred Hungry Ants
Elinor J. Pinczes
Bonnie Mackain
Houghton Mifflin / 1993
0-395-97123-3
Grade Levels for Recommended Use: Seventh Grade
(7.1) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student represents and uses numbers in a variety of
equivalent forms. The student is expected to:
(C) Represent squares and square roots using geometric models.
(7.2) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student adds, subtracts, multiplies, or divides to solve
problems and justify solutions. The student is expected to:
(B) Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve problems involving fractions and decimals.
(D) Use division to find unit rates and ratios in proportional relationships such as speed, density, price, recipes,
and student-teacher ratio.
CCSS7.NS.2. Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide rational numbers.
CCSS7.NS.3. Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations with rational numbers.
Brief Summary:
This read aloud math picture book is about 100 hungry ants making their way to a picnic to get yummies for
their tummies. It describes how they change their line formation in attempt to reach the picnic site faster. It
introduces different divisions of 100 ants and numerous other mathematical concepts.
Materials needed:
100 manipulatives (ex: counters) to represent the 100 ants per cooperative group. An additional set per group of
larger manipulatives (ex: blocks) to represent some food items that might be present at a picnic site.
Suggested Activity:
1. Have students work in groups of three. Have them organize the 100 ants (manipulatives representing the
ants) in 10 rows of 10 ants. Have the group record the measurement and the visual picture on the
worksheet section “What Do You Get When You Remove A Column & A Row?” Have them remove one
row and on column to create a smaller 9x9 square. Repeat to create an 8x8, 7x7, 6x6….. Each time have
the group record the measurements and the picture of each resulting square when a row and column are
removed. Discuss how each drawing represented a perfect square. Then introduce the concept of
solving perfect square roots with models.
2. Have the students calculate the amount of ants it would take to carry a specified piece of food. Inform
the students that an ant can carry 50 times their own body weight. Have them complete the work sheet
section on “How Many Ants Does It Take?” Each food item (manipulatives representing the food items)
should be labeled with a predetermined weight in ounces. Inform the students of a predetermined ant
body weight to be used in calculating the number of ants needed to carry a specific food item. To lower
the difficulty level – use whole numbers. To increase the difficulty level – use fractions and decimals.
Created By: Frances Martinez (2012)