Radford University
Surface Area and Volume of 3-D Objects
Don't let the class tank the project. After reviewing formulas for surface area and volume, pupils design fish tanks that maximize volume. They research cost of materials online and must meet a budgetary constraint when creating their...
Virginia Department of Education
Exploring 3-D Geometry
Take young mathematicians on an exploration of the world of 3-D geometry with this seven-lesson unit. After first defining the terms perimeter, area, and volume and how they apply to the real world, students continue on...
EngageNY
Scaling Principle for Volumes
Review the principles of scaling areas and draws a comparison to scaling volumes with a third dimensional measurement. The exercises continue with what happens to the volume if the dimensions are not multiplied by the same...
CK-12 Foundation
Whole Number Exponents: Teddy Bear Box
Five questions—multiple-choice, fill in the blank, and discussion—make up an interactive that challenges scholars to mail a teddy bear using the smallest box possible without squishing it. A box with movable sides allows mathematicians...
Curated OER
Egg Hunt
Students make detailed qualitative and quantitative observations. They are introduced to the process of developing repeatable procedures. Students practice collecting data. They review measurement skills. Students become familiar...
Curated OER
Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
Learners identify the physical and chemical properties of matter. They review the types of matter. Students list the four states of matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma). They recognize and describe the different types of matter.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Jupiter’s Relative Size
How do you properly illustrate the extreme size difference between two planets—Earth and Jupiter? With the help of jellybeans, of course! Create a scale model of Jupiter's mass compared to Earth using a fishbowl, 1,400 beans, and a...
Improving Measurement and Geometry in Elementary Schools
Rep Tiles
In addition to the catchy title, this lesson plan provides upper graders an opportunity to more closely scrutinize the attributes of plane figures. In particular, they focus on the similarity of different shapes. Both whole-class and...
Virginia Department of Education
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Get your class outside to observe their surroundings with a lesson highlighting weather patterns and seasonal changes. First, learners take a weather walk to survey how the weather affects animals, people, plants, and trees during...
Improving Measurement and Geometry in Elementary Schools
The Sum of the Interior Angles of a Polygon
Junior geometers discover that polygons can be decomposed into triangles and that the number of triangles can be determined by a rule. Note that the Geometer’s Sketchpad® software is required to carry out all components of this...
Curated OER
Rep Tiles
Third graders use pattern blocks of one shape at a time to try to create a similar shape. They compare the perimeter of the new figure with the perimeter of the original shape and look for a pattern. Students use the pattern to predict...
Curated OER
Tiling the Plane
Fifth graders use pattern blocks and triagular grid paper to reivew shape names, be introduced to the concept of a tiling of the plane, and determine which pattern blocks tile the plane. They are asked if they comprehend what a...
Curated OER
Water, Water Everywhere
Studetns view a terrarium with water droplets on the wals. They discuss the ways the water could have got onto the wall of the terrarium. Students design an experiment to duplicate the process. They describe the patterns form their data...