Sir Cumference and the First Round Table

Posted by Rosemarie Williams Jones

Title:  Sir Cumference and the First Round Table

Author and Illustrator:  Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan

Recommended Grade Level:  Grades 4-5

Common Core Standards Addressed:

CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.c.5a:  An angle is measured with reference to a circular arc between the points where the two rays intersect the circle. 

CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.C.6:  Measure angles in whole number degrees using a protractor

CCSS.Math.Content:5.G.B.3:  Understand that attributes belonging to a category of two-dimensional figures also belong to all subcategories of that category.  For example, all rectangles have four right angles and squares are rectangles, so all squares have four right angles. 

CCSS.Math.Content:5.G.B.4:  Classify two-dimensional figures in a hierarchy based on properties. 

Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP):  The Standards for Mathematical Practice that jump out to with this book are, 1 - make sense of problems and persevere in solving them, 3 - construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, 4, model with mathematics, and attend to precision.

Summary:  This is a math story of how Sir Cumference and his wife, Lady Di of Ameter and their son, Radius solved the problems of the king’s table.  King Arthur and his knights needed to have a council of their bravest knights to discuss the problem of the neighboring kingdom.  However, there was a problem with the table around which they met.  At first, it was too long, then it had too many sides, etc.  Geo of Metry made tables in several shapes before a round table solved all the problems.  In the end, the team eventually designed the perfect table conducive to discussing the problem with the neighboring kingdom, where everyone was comfortable and felt on equal standing.

Rating:  ****  4 out of 5 Stars

This book introduces or review geometric vocabulary and concepts.  Some of the story is a little far-fetched but there is a nice play on words in the character’s names.  A nice teaching point is how a rectangle was changed to create other polygons and finally a circle.  The book ends by tying in the definition of circumference, radius and diameter to the names and actions of the main characters of the story.

Classroom Ideas:

1.      I can use this book, Sir Cumference and the First Round Table, as a read aloud, stopping at different parts to diagram and explain the changes that take place to each shape.  The class will describe each new shape by its properties.  This will connect math and literature.

2.    As a class, I can read the book and stop each time the table is to be cut.  I can create that shape with paper cut outs or put it on the Smartboard.  Students can work together to discuss the new properties of that shape.  I will list their responses next to the shape on the board.  After reading a certain page, again, stop and introduce the new term circumference and discuss the meaning.  Finally, show children how to measure the circumference of an object using centimeters.

To assess learning, I will have students back at their desks measure the circumference of different size objects or lids with their partner.  They will record it in a table or notebook.  As children are measuring the circumference, I will have them walk around to reinforce the use of the new term.  I will have students predict if the knights will be happy with the new table (based on what page I stopped).  Then, I will finish reading the story.  I will introduce new vocabulary – radius, diameter and make the connection between the characters Lady Di and Radius.  Have students now go back and measure the diameter and radius of each lid or object they measured and record that data.