This lesson is optional because it does not address any new mathematical content standards. This lesson does provide students with an opportunity to apply precursor skills of mathematical modeling (MP4).

In previous lessons, students learned about the differences between area and perimeter. They learned that rectangles can have the same perimeter and different areas or the same area and different perimeters.

In this lesson, students use what they’ve learned about area and perimeter to solve problems that involve keeping chickens. Early in the lesson, students consider some aspects of keeping chickens and estimate the area taken up by a chicken coop. Then students solve a problem in which they are given a set amount of fencing and have to determine how many chickens could be kept in the fenced area based on the area requirements for each chicken and other variables. Throughout the task, students are able to make choices about the design that influence the solution to the problem.

How did the student work that you selected influence the direction of the discussion? What student work might you pick next time if you taught the lesson again?