How Do You Find The Area of a Track

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I gave my students a one day project today, after our 2-hour wait in the gym. The project was to determine the cost of resurfacing the running track at our local high school. In order to computer the cost the students would have to figure out the area, in square meters that would need to be surfaced. I projected a diagram of a running track on the screen with the either the needed dimensions labeled or information provided to allow them to calculate the needed dimensions. In theory, the project was easy. The students knew all the math they needed to know to complete the project. The challenge was could they bring that knowledge together to answer the question asked. My first three classes tried very hard, and with a minimum of hints and coaching were able to figure out what to do and came tolerably close to the right answer. My last class took one look at the project, decided it was too hard, and, with very few exceptions, didn't even try to work it out. I color-coded the different sections of the diagram for them, along with the relevant measurements. I gave them hints and clues. I even worked out some of the more difficult to determine dimensions for them when it became obvious they weren't going to make an effort without a lot of help. It was not a happy way to end what had been a very good day, even with the ridiculous internment in the gym from eight to ten o'clock. Have you ever had a good day spoiled by something happening at the very end of the day?