Excel Math: Tour de France: Do the Math

Tour de France Rider

The 102nd Tour de France is well underway. This year's race will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,360 kilometers.

Watch the exciting Tour as bikers continue riding (and colliding) through France and Belgium now through July 26.

Here are some photos from stage 16 of the Tour from Bourg de Péage to Gap.

(Today is the second rest day.)

Below is a photo of the white jersey wearer after the Stage 16, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas, of Spain. Tomorrow the riders travel from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup, covering 161 kilometers.

See the latest yellow shirts and watch the riders compete at http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/

Tour de France Stage 16 White Jersey Winner Quintana Ro

The race will finish in Paris on the Champs Elysées. The map below shows the route the riders will take. Encourage your students to calculate the distance the riders will travel on their bikes during the first 10 stages of the race, after the first 12, etc.

For a close-up view of the map and to see the jersey wearers after each stage, visit http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/parcours-general.html

In Excel Math, we challenge students to create graphs, calculate distance, read maps, solve in-depth word problems and learn to create their own problems.

Tour de France route

These Create A Problem exercises merge math with literacy and help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

As they read and solve more complex word problems students in Grades 2-6. students learn to create their own problems using higher-order thinking skills.

Read more about the unique Create A Problem exercises in Excel Math at http://excelmath.com/usingexcel.html#create and see one for Grade 5.

Here's a Student Lesson Sheet from Grade 4 with a Create A Problem exercise called "Tour de Vacation."

In this activity, students create a graph, calculate distance, and write their own word problems.

Click here to download a PDF file you can use with your students:

Excel Math Grade 4 Student Lesson Sheet Create A Problem 18
Click here to download a PDF file.

Tour de France Riders in 2010

This is a photo my friend Mike took in 2010 when he visited France and followed the riders in the Tour de France.

Learn more about how Excel Math can work for your students at excelmath.com.

Excel Math Teacher Editions are available in three versions: