The class makes the connection between finding the area of a right prism and a right pyramid in the 23rd installment in a series of 28. The pupils find the surface area of figures created by stacked cubes and prisms with cutouts.

Build upon the knowledge of nets to find the surface area of right prisms. Pupils begin to find the area of right rectangular prisms using the net for the prism. They build upon that knowledge to find a general formula that works for all...

Examine the surface area of composite figures using an exploratory approach. As a continuation of the previous lesson plan of the 29-part series, young scholars develop plans for finding the surface area of composite figures. Examples...

Explore finding the surface area of composite figures. Building on the previous lessons in the 29-part series, the 24th installment examines the surface area of three-dimensional solids. The focus is on decomposing composite figures and...

If cubes have the smallest surface area, why aren't there more cube-shaped packages? Scholars take a box in the shape of a rectangular prism, cut it up, and make new boxes in the shape of cubes with the same volume. They then brainstorm...

Who knew there were pyramids in China? Learners apply surface area and volume formulas to several different real-world situations. They calculate the volume and surface area of an aquarium, an ice cream cone, and Egyptian and Chinese...

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...

The 26th part of a 28-part series requires pupils to determine whether the answer to a problem requires surface area or volume. The class works problems about fish tanks that prompt individuals to decide, based on the question, which...

Partners use materials to wrap three-dimensional objects to determine the formula for surface area. The groups use an orange to calculate the amount of peel it takes to completely cover the fruit. Using manipulatives, individuals then...

Determine the cost of projects based on volume or surface area. Pupils work problems to determine the cost of building a brick planter and a stainless steel feeder in the 27th installment of a 28-part series. Participants must consider...

Take the resource out of the file cabinet. Young mathematicians estimate the number of sticky notes it would take to cover the surface area of a file cabinet. They answer a set of questions on how the number of sticky notes would change...

Double the dimensions, quadruple the surface area. Pairs build similar prisms and compare the ratios of their surface areas and volumes to the ratio of the heights. Given two similar cones, partners determine the ratios of the lateral...

Give plants the best place to grow. Given constraints on plant spacing, pupils design a raised bed garden using graph paper, then calculate the perimeter, surface area, and volume. They use the provided costs of lumber and soil to...

Feed the need for knowledge. Future mathematicians first consider how the lateral area of a rectangular prism relates to its volume. They then design a container for alpaca food that has the maximum volume possible from a given sheet of...

Hook your charges on how to solve a real-world art problem with mathematics by showing works of Christo. You can find eye-catching images on the Christo and Jeanne Claude webpage. Here, math learners help Jean Claude and Christo prepare...

Fifth graders determine which container made from a single sheet of paper has the greatest volume. They look the solutions made by three different students before working on their own examples.