Curated OER
Investigation-On the Surface
Students compute the surface area of 3 geometric solids to determine the shape of package that would require the least amount of paper to wrap. In this geometry lesson, students work on a two-question assessment embedded in the plan. The...
Curated OER
Aqua-Thrusters!
Students construct their own rocket-powered boat called an "aqua-thruster." These aqua-thrusters will be made from a film canister and will use carbon dioxide gas - produced from a chemical reaction between an antacid tablet and water -...
Curated OER
Tools for Integrating Math and Engineering: Weighin' In
Students collect and analyze data on a fictional cereal company's products. In this measurement activity, students collect data from cereal boxes (weight, volume, surface area, etc.) to determine if the boxes labels correctly inform...
Curated OER
Soak It Up
Students role play where they assume the role of business executives who must decide which of three prototypes of paper towels would be the best buy for consumers. Students compare three products to determine the best value by using...
Bowland
AstroZoo
Rescue animals in the zoo by applying math concepts. Groups of learners solve three missions involving oxygen, food, and climate control. Each group selects an animal from one of four bio-domes.
Curated OER
Amazing Transpiration
Learners observe a leaf and discuss the way that water is released from a leaf through its stomata. For this water cycle lesson plan, students calculate how much water leaves produce from a whole tree.
Curated OER
Area, Surface, and Volume
Ninth graders demonstrate application of area, surface, and volume. They apply formulas to a model of the classroom so they can determine the volume and surface area of the classroom.
Curated OER
Living Room Redecoration
Fourth graders use math in a living room redecoration lesson. In this geometry lesson, 4th graders get the dimensions of a living room and need to find the amount and cost of paint and flooring. They read different scenarios and decide...
Curated OER
The Calculus Whiz Who Owned a Box Company
Students use the relationship between volume and surface area to construct a box out of a piece of paper that maximizes volume using a table and by using graphing and calculus techniques.
Curated OER
A Cylinder Workshop
Students work with given formulas to solve for specific variables. The calculation of the volume of a cylinder and the change in volume when there is a constant surface area is analyzed in this lesson.
Curated OER
Color Your World
Pupils calculate the cost of painting a room. In this surface area instructional activity, students create a scale model from provided dimensions of a bedroom. Groups use area formulas to find square footage, from which materials and...
Curated OER
Using Nets to Find Surface Area
Eighth graders explore three-dimensional objects (prisms, pyramids, cylinders and cones) to draw nets. They use the understanding of drawing nets to find the surface area of pyramids and cylinders.
Shodor Education Foundation
InteGreat
Hands-on investigation of Riemann sums becomes possible without intensive arithmetic gymnastics with this interactive lesson plan. Learners manipulate online graphing tools to develop and test theories about right, left, and...
Curated OER
Surface Area and Volume of a Cube
Students explore finding the surface area and volume of cubes and cylinders. They construct similar three-dimensional figures from a two-dimensional drawing. Students derive the formula for volume and surface area through examination...
Curated OER
Linear, Square, and Cubic Units
Linear, square, and cubic units are all investigated as different types of packages are measured. The teacher will need supplies such as a box of aluminum foil, a package of ribbon, and a bag of mulch. The class determines the...
Curated OER
Area And Perimeter Using Pentominoes
Third graders engage in an enrichment lesson exploring the concepts of area and perimeter. They construct new pentominoes that are 3 times the size of normal ones and then identify the area and perimeter measurements. They then create a...
Curated OER
Surface Area of Cubes and Rectangular Prisms
Eighth graders calculate surface area of 3-D shapes. In this geometry lesson plan, 8th graders analyze cubes and prisms by finding their area and surface area. They compare the data of these two shapes.
Curated OER
Cut It Out!
Students calculate the surface area of polygons. In this geometry lesson plan, students use spacial reasoning to find the answer to their problem. They analyze solids and create formulas to estimate the measurements of the area.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Representing the Laws of Arithmetic
Sixth graders connect numerical expressions to geometric area. They first complete an assessment task requiring them to identify area models for numerical expressions. Learners then participate in an activity to match area models to...
Virginia Department of Education
Geometry and Volume
The history of math is fascinating! Utilize a woodcut primary source image from 1492 and posters from the 1930s to help geometers apply their volume-calculation skills to real-life questions.
Curated OER
Area: It's What's on the INSIDE That Counts!
Second graders participate in a series of hands-on, online and multimedia activities that examine the concept of area. They view clips from the animated series Math Monsters and discuss the purpose of area and how it is used in the real...
Mascil Project
Circular Pave-Stones Backyard
Pack the lesson into your plans. Young mathematicians learn about packing and optimization with the context of circular paving stones. They use coins to model the paving stones, and then apply knowledge of circles and polygons to...
University of Wisconsin
Sizing a Rain Garden
Most appropriate if you are applying the entire unit to build a rain garden at your school, this installment involves calculating the area that will drain into it. Your garden planners will need data from previous lessons, so this one...
Willow Tree
Measurement
Build a basic understanding of units of measure and create a great foundation for your learners. The lesson gives a complete overview of everything measurement, from types of measurement to rounding to conversions — it has it all!