Shodor Education Foundation
Surface Area of Rectangular Prism
With this interactive lesson plan, learners compute the surface area of rectangular prisms. They visit an online investigation applet and record data on the provided handout. Pair this lesson plan with the volume lesson plan by the same...
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 lesson.
Curated OER
Area of Polygons
Learners engage in a lesson that is about the concept of polygons and focuses upon finding the area. They use formulas provided in the lesson in order to solve problems given by the teacher for independent practice. Geometric figures are...
Curated OER
Fractals Teachers' Notes
When you see a flower or a tree in nature do you see the math? This web resource contains many ideas for using fractals in a math class including Sierpinski’s triangle, Koch's Snowflake, and the Jurassic Park Fractal. Additionally, it...
Curated OER
Volume and Surface Area: Which Is More?
Students explore the volume and surface area of three dimensional figures. Through the use of video, students discover three dimensional shapes, their uses in real-life applications, and methods used to calculate their volume and surface...
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Surface Area of Prisms
Students compute surface area and volume of prisms. In this surface area lesson, students find the surface area and volume of rectangular and triangular prisms. Independently, students use their computers to determine the volume,...
Curated OER
Finding the Area Under A Curve with Random Probability
Students explore the concept of area under a curve. In this area under a curve lesson, students find the area under a curve using the Monte Carlo method using random points and probability. Students calculate the area under the same...
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Geoboard Squares
Learners create squares of different sizes on a geoboard. They find and describe a pattern. Students use the pattern to determine the number of squares possible on a 10-by-10 geoboard. They create squares with a horizontal base (and...
Curated OER
Scaled Rubber Band Drawings
Students demonstrate the process of creating a scaled rubber band enlargement of a simple drawing. They observe and discuss a teacher-led demonstration, and create a scaled rubber band enlargement of simple drawings and their invention...
Math Mammoth
Finding the Area of Rectangles, Parallelograms, and Triangles
In this area of polygons activity, 9th graders solve two area of rectangles, one area of parallelogram, and ten area of triangles problems. The formulas for finding the area of these figures are provided.
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Introduction to Fractals: Geometric Fractals
Students study and observe the patterns made by the areas of the Sierpinski Triangle. Students use the computer to draw two or three iterations to discover the number patterns. Students complete worksheets based on Geometric Fractals.
Curated OER
Does the Area of the Quadrilateral Change?
Students study area and quadrilaterals. In this multiplication and area lesson, students use Polystrip models to change rectangles to form different parallelograms. Students find the area of the models use a Geometer Sketchpad to find...
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Surface Area and Volume
Students are introduced to the notion of surface area and volume, learn the terminology used with surface area and volume and have experimented with the surface area and volume of different prisms.
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Finding Area of Similar Figures
Students explore the concept of finding area of similar figures. In this finding area of similar figures lesson, students use pattern blocks to construct similar figures. Students trace their construction and find the area. Students...
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Introduction to Fractals: Geometric Fractals
Learners explore the concept of fractals. For this fractals lesson, students discuss Sierpinski's Triangle using an applet. Learners discuss the patterns involved with fractals. Students discuss the area of Sierpinski's triangle as the...
Curated OER
Reflections
Fifth graders create a reflection of a poygon using a Mira. They discover that a line connecting a vertiex of a polygon and the corresponding vertex of its reflection is perpendicular to the line of reflection. Students create a glide...
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Calculating Surface Area
In this surface area worksheet, students find the surface are of cubes and rectangular prisms. This one-page worksheet contains 3 problems.
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Structures and Shapes
Students make jewelry using different shapes from magazines, tissue paper, cardboard, and other materials. In this making jewelry lesson plan, students complete this hands on activity to discuss how shapes are used.
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Estimating With Fire
Students solve problems with percents, decimals and fractions. In this algebra lesson, students convert between fractions, percents and decimals. They estimate their answers and calculate their answer.
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Does the Area of the Quadrilateral Change?
Seventh graders complete activities to further their understanding of area formulas. In this area lesson, 7th graders watch as the teacher uses Polystrips to model parallelograms. Students find the area of a rectangle and answer...
Curated OER
Getting Familiar with Fractals
Students use the Internet to answer lab questions about fractals, and then construct fractals using the initial stage and iteration rule. They complete tables and generate rules for the "nth" term and create their own fractals.
Curated OER
The Unknown Secrets of the Rain Forest
Pupils explore the rain forest and where they are located. Students examine why the rain forests are important and what is happening to them. They investigate the water cycle and life cycle of a frog. Pupils build a rain forest in the...
Curated OER
Optimization For Breakfast
Students identify he proportion of a cereal box. In this algebra lesson, students define the relationship between patterns, functions and relations. They model their understanding using the cereal box.
Curated OER
Lesson Exchange: Polygons (Middle, Mathematics)
Learners discover the relationship between the sides of a polygon and the number of diagonals that can be drawn from one vertex, the number of triangles that those diagonals form, and the sum of the interior angles of that polygon.