The Giant Soup Can of Hornby Island

We need 1291 liters of water to control a fire, hence there is enough water to put out an average house fire because the water tank can hold around 17,861 L of water. 

This problem allows students to use proportions, estimating, and reasoning. Students may get stuck when they need to find the dimensions of the actual Campbell Soup can and the height of the bike in the photo. They also might get stuck figuring out the diameter of the tank from the height of the bike just by looking at the picture. However, this is a good problem as it allows them to connect to the real world. The problem is realistic and practical. Being able to estimate is a crucial skill because we use it all the time in our daily lives when we go to the grocery store. Further, allowing students to find the information they need to solve word problems is also an important skill that is needed when they become adults. 

One way I would extend the problem is by allowing students to look at the length of the bike in the photo instead of the height. In this case, they would need to figure out how high the tank is when given the length of the bike. This will help them realize that they only need one dimension of the bike to solve the problem when they are given the dimensions of a normal-sized soup can. 

Update November 5, 2023

Here is another extension problem. About one person can fit in between two hedges. What would be the total area of the six hedges at the front not including the hedges at the back. This will allow students to estimate the width and length of the hedges using their knowledge of human measurements. Further, they will need to consider the gap between the hedges when calculating the area.

Update November 7, 2023

This photo was taken at Jeju Island in South Korea when I traveled this summer. This place is called Osulloc Tea Musem and it is a place that shares the history and culture of Korean tea. Osulloc cultivated a farm to create an organic tea farm in Korea. However, it is considered one of the greatest tourist attractions because it was nearly impossible to grow crops on this land due to the rocks. Since it is challenging to see the hedges at the back, only consider the six hedges at the front of the photo and find the total area!