Vampires: Fact or Fiction?

Students predict how many vampires are in the world, based on the legend that, once bitten, each victim becomes a vampire. Extrapolating how many vampires would populate the earth in 30+ weeks, students then compare the total predicted vampire population against earth's total human population. This creative lesson by Microsoft improves math, problem solving, and group skills. This activity is great since The Twilight Saga is such a big hit right now. Computer access and Microsoft Excel are needed in order to complete this particular activity.

Standards & Objectives

Academic standards
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.5
Express a fraction with denominator 10 as an equivalent fraction with denominator 100, and use this technique to add two fractions with respective...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.1
Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to...
CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.2
Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.G.A.3
Draw polygons in the coordinate plane given coordinates for the vertices; use coordinates to find the length of a side joining points with the same...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.C.6
Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Extend number line diagrams and coordinate axes familiar from previous grades to...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.C.7
Understand ordering and absolute value of rational numbers.
CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.C.8
Solve real-world and mathematical problems by graphing points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. Include use of coordinates and...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. For example, "The ratio of wings...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.2
Understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b != 0, and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship....
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3
Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, e.g., by reasoning about tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams,...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.1
Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers. For...
CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5
Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context, such as by:
CCSS.Math.Content.7.NS.A.1
Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and subtract rational numbers; represent addition and subtraction on a...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.1
Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.2
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.3
Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems. Examples: simple interest, tax, markups and markdowns, gratuities and...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.A.1
Understand that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a sample of the population; generalizations about a...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.A.2
Use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population with an unknown characteristic of interest. Generate multiple samples (or...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.B.3
Informally assess the degree of visual overlap of two numerical data distributions with similar variabilities, measuring the difference between the...
CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.B.4
Use measures of center and measures of variability for numerical data from random samples to draw informal comparative inferences about two...
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.B.8
Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.
GLE 0406.2.5
Add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators.
GLE 0506.4.3
Describe length/distance relationships using the first quadrant of the coordinate system.
GLE 0506.5.2
Describe the shape and important features of a set of data using the measures of central tendency.
GLE 0606.1.2
Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to problem solving, including estimation, and reasonableness of the solution.
GLE 0606.1.4
Move flexibly between concrete and abstract representations of mathematical ideas in order to solve problems, model mathematical ideas, and communicate solution...
GLE 0606.1.6
Read and interpret the language of mathematics and use written/oral communication to express mathematical ideas precisely.
GLE 0606.1.8
Use technologies/manipulatives appropriately to develop understanding of mathematical algorithms, to facilitate problem solving, and to create accurate and...
GLE 0606.2.3
Understand and use ratios, rates and percents.
GLE 0606.3.6
Understand and use the Cartesian coordinate system.
GLE 0606.5.2
Interpret representations of data from surveys and polls, and describe sample bias and how data representations can be misleading.
GLE 0706.1.5
Use mathematical ideas and processes in different settings to formulate patterns, analyze graphs, set up and solve problems and interpret solutions.
GLE 0706.2.1
Extend understandings of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to integers.
GLE 0706.2.2
Understand and work with the properties of and operations on the system of rational numbers.
GLE 0706.2.3
Develop an understanding of and apply proportionality.
GLE 0706.2.4
Use ratios, rates and percents to solve single- and multi-step problems in various contexts.
GLE 0706.3.5
Understand and graph proportional relationships.
GLE 0706.4.2
Apply proportionality to converting among different units of measurements to solve problems involving rates such as motion at a constant speed.
GLE 0706.4.4
Understand and use ratios, derived quantities, and indirect measurements.
GLE 0706.5.1
Collect, organize, and analyze both single- and two-variable data.
GLE 0706.5.3
Formulate questions and design studies to collect data about a characteristic shared by two populations, or different characteristics within one population.
GLE 0706.5.4
Use descriptive statistics to summarize and compare data.
SPI 0406.2.5
Generate equivalent forms of common fractions and decimals and use them to compare size.
SPI 0406.4.2
Graph and interpret points with whole number or letter coordinates on grids or in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane.
SPI 0406.4.3
Construct geometric figures with vertices at points on a coordinate grid.
SPI 0506.2.7
Recognize equivalent representations for the same number.
SPI 0506.2.9
Compare whole numbers, decimals and fractions using the symbols , and =.
SPI 0506.4.5
Find the length of vertical or horizontal line segments in the first quadrant of the coordinate system, including problems that require the use of fractions and...
SPI 0606.1.1
Make conjectures and predictions based on data.
SPI 0606.2.6
Solve problems involving ratios, rates and percents.
SPI 0606.2.7
Locate positive rational numbers on the number line.
SPI 0606.2.8
Locate integers on the number line.
SPI 0606.3.9
Graph ordered pairs of integers in all four quadrants of the Cartesian coordinate system.
SPI 0606.5.3
Determine whether or not a sample is biased.
SPI 0706.1.3
Recognize whether information given in a table, graph, or formula suggests a directly proportional, linear, inversely proportional, or other nonlinear relationship.
SPI 0706.2.1
Simplify numerical expressions involving rational numbers.
SPI 0706.2.5
Solve contextual problems that involve operations with integers.
SPI 0706.2.6
Express the ratio between two quantities as a percent, and a percent as a ratio or fraction.
SPI 0706.2.7
Use ratios and proportions to solve problems.
SPI 0706.3.4
Interpret the slope of a line as a unit rate given the graph of a proportional relationship.
SPI 0706.3.5
Represent proportional relationships with equations, tables and graphs.
SPI 0706.5.3
Calculate and interpret the mean, median, upper-quartile, lower-quartile, and interquartile range of a set of data.
SPI 0806.1.1
Solve problems involving rate/time/distance (i.e., d = rt).
SPI 0806.1.3
Calculates rates involving cost per unit to determine the best buy.
SPI 0806.4.2
Apply the Pythagorean theorem to find distances between points in the coordinate plane to measure lengths and analyze polygons and polyhedra.
SPI 0806.4.4
Convert between and within the U.S. Customary System and the metric system.
TSS.Math.4.NF.C.5
Express a fraction with denominator 10 as an equivalent fraction with denominator 100, and use this technique to add two fractions with respective...
TSS.Math.5.G.A.1
Graph ordered pairs and label points using the first quadrant of the coordinate plane. Understand in the ordered pair that the first number indicates the...
TSS.Math.5.G.A.2
Represent real-world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane and interpret coordinate values of points in...
TSS.Math.6.G.A.3
Draw polygons in the coordinate plane given coordinates for the vertices; use coordinates to find the length of a side that joins two vertices (vertical or...
TSS.Math.6.NS.C.6
Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Extend number line diagrams and coordinate axes familiar from previous grades to represent...
TSS.Math.6.NS.C.7
Understand ordering and absolute value of rational numbers.
TSS.Math.6.NS.C.8
Solve real-world and mathematical problems by graphing points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. Include use of coordinates and absolute value...
TSS.Math.6.RP.A.1
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. For example, the ratio of wings to beaks...
TSS.Math.6.RP.A.2
Understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b != 0. Use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship.
TSS.Math.6.RP.A.3
Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
TSS.Math.6.SP.A.1
Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers. For example,...
TSS.Math.6.SP.B.5
Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context.
TSS.Math.7.NS.A.1
Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and subtract rational numbers; represent addition and subtraction on a...
TSS.Math.7.RP.A.1
Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas, and other quantities measured in like or different units. For...
TSS.Math.7.RP.A.2
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
TSS.Math.7.RP.A.3
Use proportional relationships to solve multi-step ratio and percent problems.
TSS.Math.7.SP.A.1
Understand that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a sample of the population; generalizations about a population...
TSS.Math.7.SP.A.2
Use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population with an unknown characteristic of interest. Generate multiple samples (or simulated...
TSS.Math.7.SP.B.3
Informally assess the degree of visual overlap of two numerical data distributions with similar variabilities, measuring the difference between the centers...
TSS.Math.7.SP.B.4
Use measures of center and measures of variability for numerical data from random samples to draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.
TSS.Math.8.G.B.6
Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points in a coordinate system.
 
Alignment of this item to academic standards is based on recommendations from content creators, resource curators, and visitors to this website. It is the responsibility of each educator to verify that the materials are appropriate for your content area, aligned to current academic standards, and will be beneficial to your specific students.
 
Learning objectives: 

Students will:

  • create Excel sheet and interpret graphs.
  • problem-solve using real world data.
  • make predictions and analyze data.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access
  • Microsoft Excel (Note: teacher can choose to do this manually or on their own for a bulletin board idea)
  • printer (if wishing to assess student work)

References

Contributors: