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Secrets of Lost Empires II—Pharaoh's Obelisk

Classroom Activities

Objective
To compare the weights of Egyptian obelisks and Rapa Nui moai to other objects.

• copy of "Weighing In" student handout (HTML)
• calculator
• drawing paper
• markers or crayons

1. Provide each team with a copy of the "Weighing In" student handout. Direct students to determine how many objects of a given weight would be equivalent to the weights mentioned in the videos. For example, an average bike weighs 35 pounds (15.88 kilograms). (Answer: 10 tons = 20,000 pounds -:- 35 pounds = 571 bikes.)

2. Make a bulletin board of drawings showing comparison. Have students show their calculations and ratios.

Students may choose to find their own weight comparisons. To get them started, you may want to give them the following weights of some common objects: sport utility vehicle = 4,500 pounds (2,025 kilograms); blue whale = 150 tons (135 metric tonnes); bowling ball = 16 pounds (7.2 kilograms); refrigerator = 200 pounds (90 kilograms).

Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for Mathematics
Grades 5-8
Mathematics Standard 5: Number and Number Relationships