Math with Antlers Figure 3 shows a student measuring the linear distance between points on the left antler and right antler. This measurement determines the spread of the antler, and students are asked to determine the "Tip to Tip Spread," Greatest Spread," and "Inside Spread of Main Beams." The length of the main beam for each side of the antler are also measured as seen in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows how students measured the lengths of each point on the antlers before measuring the changing circumference of the deer antlers (see Figure 6) as students measure between points on the antlers. This provides the opportunity to discuss the meaning of circumference. This activity also connects the measurements of linear and curved distances to a real-world task that results in students recording mixed numbers they must then add and subtract. Figure 5: The length of a point on a deer antler is a linear distance. Figure 3: The spread of deer antlers is determined by measuring linear distance. Figure 6: The circumference of deer antlers is a curved distance. "Students begin to see the relationship between fractions and learn how one fraction can be equivalent to another. " Figure 4: The length of the main beam of a deer antler is a curved distance. 28 | Fall/Winter 2020 Texas Mathematics Teacher