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Computer Capers

Fun K-8 home/school activities that reinforce Indiana Academic Standards using computers to encourage students to draw, research, calculate and express! Though we have discontinued the monthly Computer Capers publication, sign-up for our email list to receive notification of upcoming grants and workshops.

Let the Sunshine In

Now that winter is behind us, the skies are starting to open up, the sun is shining more, and we have more hours of daylight! Can you figure out how much of that sunshine gets into your house through the windows? To find the answer to this question you need to first measure each window of your home. Grab a measuring tape, a pencil and paper to record your findings as you go. Measure the length and width of each window in inches. You may find that some of them are the same. If so, just use a tally mark when recording. Next, create a spreadsheet on your computer that will help you to calculate the area of each window, and the total area in your whole home. In column A list each of the windows by room. Column B will hold the width and column C the height. Use column D to place the formula to calculate Area (multiply the width times the height (=b*c). If you had multiple windows that were the same size you can either copy and paste the data down your spreadsheet or multiply the area in Column D by the number of windows that size. When all of your measurements are entered and the area for each is calculated, find the total area (add a sum formula) that includes all area calculations for all windows. Are you surprised by your final answer? Would you rather have more or less area for sunlight to enter your home? Why?

Challenge: Your calculations are in square inch units. Can you figure out a way to make them in square feet? . . .in yards?

Indiana Academic Standards

Grade Level 3-5

Mathematics - Measurement