Hot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement! (2024)

ByBethany

My kids love hot chocolate. It’s such a special treat! When the weather is nice, they love to curl up in the yard at night and star gaze with a large cup of hot chocolate.When the weather is cold and snowy, they love to warm up with a cup! The problem is, they tend to fight over silly things, like who gets which cup. Whether they want a particular mug, or a certain color, it drives me insane to have them argue over which cup they get! However, if they’re so concerned about who gets which cup, I’m going to turn it into a learning opportunity! This hot chocolate math investigation allowed us to explore estimation, measurement and volume. And if you have older kids, I’ve created a fun printable page to record answers and discussion questions!

Hot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement! (1)

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Materials Needed for a Hot Chocolate Math Investigation:

  • Cups in various sizes
  • Water
  • Measuring cupHot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement! (2) (the larger the better, especially if you have large mugs)

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Hot Chocolate Math Set Up:

There is not much to set up, simply have the variety of cups sitting out and let your kids (or classroom students) begin a discussion.

Questions to ask:

  • Which cup will hold the most hot chocolate?
  • Why do you think that will hold the most?
  • Which cup will hold the least hot chocolate?
  • What are some ways we can determine or compare the amount that each cup holds?

Then start experimenting!

Because my kids are still young, we simply used this lesson as an opportunity to explore measurement and have fun and interesting math discussions.

If you have older kids, however, I would encourage them to write their estimates down, and then actually measure the cups as they explore and compare.

Ask what measurements they think they need in order to determine how much water each cup will hold.

Try not to give or explain a formal definition for volume. Simply let the kids explore and think through their own ideas. You can always go into more detail when you’re finished. 🙂

Once kids have decided which cup they think will hold the most, fill all the cups with water.

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Then pour one glass into your measuring cupHot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement! (5) and determine the total liquid in the cup. (Older students can record this on the answer page). Then pour the water back into the cup.

Continue pouring each cup into the measuring cup to determine how much water fit in each glass.

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Then compare to your original estimates!

Questions for Discussion:

  • Were they right about the largest cup?
  • Did the tallest cup hold the most water? Why or why not?
  • What factors might determine how much liquid a cup can hold?

After the investigation and discussion, you may want to have a more formal discussion of volume, depending on the age of your kids.

If so, here are some important factors to consider:

  • Likely the cups you are using are not perfect cylinders (they may be smaller around the bottom or top) so even using a math formula will not give the exact volume.
  • If some of your cups are not perfect cylinders, would the volume formula (V=Bh) give an overestimate or underestimate of the actual volume? Why?
  • You also much take into account the thickness of the glass when measuring the cup. How might this change your answer?
  • How might you account for not actually filling the cup to the top when comparing to a formal volume calculation?

What other ideas or discussion questions would you add to this investigation? Would your kids have fun with a “hot chocolate math investigation?” Share your ideas below!

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Want to download a copy of the recording page and discussion questions? Grab your FREE copy using the link below!

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{Click HERE to go to my shop to download the Hot Chocolate Math Investigation Pages!}

And of course, be sure to enjoy some yummy hot chocolate after you’ve discovered which cup will hold the most! 🙂

Want more fun hands-on estimation and volume lessons? Try one of these!

  • Toilet paper roll estimation activity
  • Hands-on volume lesson
  • How many seeds in a pumpkin: hands-on estimation lesson
  • Printable “gumball machine” estimation lesson

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Find more fun ideas for snow day learning and play at iHomeschool Network!

Hot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement! (2024)

FAQs

How does chocolate math work? ›

Chocolate Maths
  1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you eat chocolate. ...
  2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold).
  3. Add 5 (for Sunday).
  4. Multiply it by 50.
  5. Add 1750.
  6. Add the last two digits from the year you last had a birthday. ...
  7. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born (if you remember).

Does chocolate help you with math? ›

Mental arithmetic became easier after maths volunteers had been given large amounts of compounds found in chocolate, called flavanols, in a hot cocoa drink. They were also less likely to feel tired or mentally drained, the findings, presented at the British Psychological Society annual conference in Brighton show.

What is the scientific explanation of chocolate? ›

Chocolate (a cocoa dispersion), can be defined as a concentrated suspension made up of solid particles, such as sugar, cocoa powder, milk powder, etc., dispersed in a Newtonian liquid, generally cocoa butter.

How is chocolate percentage calculated? ›

For example, if a chocolate bar has 35 grams of cocoa mass, 14 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of emulsifier, with a total weight of 50 grams, the dark chocolate percentage would be 35/50 or 70%.

Is hot chocolate good for studying? ›

Chocolate Improves Blood Flow to the Brain

In a study conducted at Harvard Medical School, it was shown that 2 cups of Hot Choco improved blood flow to the brain for a time duration that lasted for about 2-3 hours.

What foods help with math? ›

Top Brain Foods for Studying Table:
FoodKey Nutrients
Citrus FruitsVitamin C
Dark ChocolateFlavonoids, Caffeine, Antioxidants
NutsHealthy Fats, Antioxidants, Vitamin E
EggsVitamins B6 and B12, Folate, Choline
4 more rows

Why does chocolate help ADHD? ›

For some people with ADHD, mild stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine (a bitter chemical from the cocoa plant and present in chocolate) have similar effects to the more powerful drugs commonly used in treating ADHD. Data suggests that caffeine can improve the function of children with ADHD.

Does dark chocolate make you better at math? ›

Now scientists say it helps with math. Sort of. In the new study reported in the British media, participants given large amounts of flavanols, which are compounds found in chocolate, did better when asked to count backwards in groups of three from a random number between 800 and 999.

What problem does chocolate solve? ›

Eating chocolate may have the following benefits: lowering cholesterol levels. preventing cognitive decline. reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

How do you use 100 percent chocolate? ›

Cooking with 100% chocolate
  1. Add a few squares to your chilli or stew. Whilst it may seem unusual, adding chocolate to a savoury dish can be a real game-changer for your everyday meals. ...
  2. Bake some 100% chocolate muffins. ...
  3. Drizzle over baked figs. ...
  4. Create a savoury chocolate sauce. ...
  5. Try a dark chocolate vinaigrette.
Jan 13, 2023

How does the math work on Shark Tank? ›

This is where the sharks usually ask how much the company made in the prior year. The valuation is then divided by that amount. If the company made $100,000 last year, it would be $1 million ÷ $100,000 = 10. If the company continues to make $100,000 each year, it would take 10 years for the investor to break even.

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