Title of Book: One Grain of Rice

Author: Demi

Publisher: Scholastic Press (April 1, 1997)

ISBN: 059093998X

Grade Levels for Recommended Use: 2 - 8 Younger grades will enjoy the story and pictures. The mathematical concepts are appropriate for grades 7 and 8

TEKS: 8th grade mathematics

(4)Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student makes connections among various representations of a numerical relationship. The student is expected to generate a different representation of data given another representation of data (such as a table, graph, equation, or verbal description).

(5)Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student uses graphs, tables, and algebraic representations to make predictions and solve problems. The student is expected to:

(A)predict, find, and justify solutions to application problems using appropriate tables, graphs, and algebraic equations; and

(B)find and evaluate an algebraic expression to determine any term in an arithmetic sequence (with a constant rate of change).

Brief Summary: A raja in India refuses to share the stored rice in a time of famine with the village people. A young girl is rewarded for her generosity and granted one request from the raja. She asks for one grain of rice to be doubled for the next 30 days. Unaware of the power of doubling the raja grants her request. Soon the villagers have plenty of rice and the raja learns a lesson in wisdom and benevolence.

Materials needed:

One Grain of Rice by Demi

One Grain of Rice Activity Sheet

Calculators

Suggested Activity:

  1. Students will predict what the book might be about based on the title, front cover, and back cover.
  2. Read book with the you tube clip of the book with music in the background.

Read One Grain of Rice aloud to the end of page5, stopping immediately after, "The people had no rice to give to the raja, and they had no rice to eat." Students will discuss the topics of famine and hunger, and what may cause famine in a country. Allow for class discussion of real-life issues about this worldwide problem.

  1. Continue reading pages6-11 aloud, finishing when the raja says, "Ask me for anything, and you shall have it."
  2. Students will create a request for the raja that includes a plan to feed the village.
  1. Read pages 12-15 aloud. Discuss with students if Rani’s plan was similar or different to the plan that their group created.
  2. Give the students the One Grain of Rice activity sheet and allow them approximately 5minutes with a partner to complete Question1 and estimate (without using calculators) how much rice Rani would receive in 30days.
  1. Read through the end of the book.
  2. Students will reflect on Rani’s request and the outcome of the book with a partner.
  3. In small groups, have students complete the activity sheet.
  4. Give students approximately 10minutes to work, allow students to share their equations with the entire class. Examples of acceptable equations are:

■Grains of rice (g) that Rani receives on dayn: g=2n–1

■Total grains of rice (t) that Rani receives through ndays: t=2n–1

References and or websites:

Adapted by (Michelle LaRocque, 2012)