Abstract
This lesson is designed to introduce students to the concept of surface area and how to find the surface area of rectangular prisms.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students will:
- have a basic understanding of the concept of surface area.
- understand how to solve problems using the surface area of a rectangular prism.
Standards Addressed
Grade 6
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Geometry
- The student solves problems (including real-world situations) using perimeter, area, or volume.
Grade 7
-
Geometry
- The student solves problems (including real-world situations).
Grade 8
-
Geometry
- The student solves problems (including real-world situations).
Grade 9
-
Geometry
- The student solves problems (including real-world situations).
Grade 10
-
Geometry
- The student solves problems (including real-world situations).
Grades 8-12
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Geometry
- 8.0 Students know, derive, and solve problems involving the perimeter, circumference, area, volume, lateral area, and surface area of common geometric figures.
- 9.0 Students compute the volumes and surface areas of prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones, and spheres; and students commit to memory the formulas for prisms, pyramids, and cylinders.
Third Grade
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Measurement and Data
- Geometric measurement: understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and to addition.
Sixth Grade
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Geometry
- Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume.
Seventh Grade
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Geometry
- Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.
Geometry
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Geometric Measurement and Dimension
- Visualize relationships between two-dimensional and three- dimensional objects
Grades 9-12
-
Geometry
- Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships
Geometry
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Geometry and Measurement
- Competency Goal 2: The learner will use geometric and algebraic properties of figures to solve problems and write proofs.
Geometry
-
Geometry
- Standard G-7: The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of the surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects.
7th Grade
-
Geometry
- The student will develop an understanding of geometric concepts and relationships as the basis for geometric modeling and reasoning to solve problems involving one-, two-, and three-dimensional figures.
8th Grade
-
Geometry
- The student will develop an understanding of geometric concepts and relationships as the basis for geometric modeling and reasoning to solve problems involving one-, two-, and three-dimensional figures.
Geometry
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Measurement
- Students will apply appropriate units of measurement; develop effective estimation and computation strategies for solving real world problems involving length, area, and volume; and choose appropriate techniques and tools to measure quantities in order to
Geometry
-
Congruence and the Geometry of Size
- 8. The student uses tools to determine measurements of geometric figures and extends measurement concepts to find perimeter, area, and volume in problem situations.
Secondary
-
Geometry
- G.13 The student will use formulas for surface area and volume of three-dimensional objects to solve practical problems. Calculators will be used to find decimal approximations for results.
Textbooks Aligned
Grade Seven
-
Filling and Wrapping
- Investigation Three: Finding Volumes of Boxes
- Investigation Seven: Finding Volumes of Irregular Objects
Book 1
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Module 7 - Wonders of the World
- Section 2: Volumes of Prisms
Book 2
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Module 6 - Flights of Fancy
- Section 2: Surface Area of Prisms
- Section 5: Volume of a Prism
Book 3
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Module 1 - Amazing Feats, Facts and Fictions
- Section 4: Finding Volumes
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Module 3 - The Mystery of Blacktail Canyon
- Section 1: Volume
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Module 5 - Inventions
- Section 1: Volume
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Module 6 - Architects and Engineers
- Section 3: Surface Area of Prisms and Pyramids
- Section 3: Volumes of Prisms
7th
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Module 7 - MATH-Thematical Mix
- Section 1: Measurement and Volume
8th
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Module 5 - Architects and Engineers
- Section 4: Surface Area and Volume
Grade 7
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Packages and Polygons
- Geometric Shapes
Student Prerequisites
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Arithmetic :
Students must be able to:
- perform integer and rational arithmetic
- find the area of squares and rectangles
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Technological :
Students must be able to:
- perform basic mouse manipulations such as point, click and drag
- use a browser for experimenting with the activities
Teacher Preparation
- Physical manipulative objects as examples of triangular prisms
- Access to browser for pairs of students
- Paper and pencil
- Student copies of Record Sheets
Key Terms
surface area
A measure of the number of square units needed to cover the outside of a figure
Lesson Outline
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Focus and Review
Remind students what has been covered in previous lessons and have students review the following:
- Area of shapes (squares and rectangles)
- Basic concept of surface area
- Basic properties of three-dimensional figures
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Objectives
Let students know what they will be doing and learning today. Say something like this:
- Today we are going to be discussing surface area and finding the surface area of rectangular prisms.
- We are going to continue to use the Surface Area and Volume applet that we have used previously to find the volume of prisms. Please don't open your computers until I instruct you to do so.
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Teacher Input
- Lead students in a discussion about surface area.
- Be prepared to show students physical models of prisms and explain the pairs of sides.
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Guided Practice
- Introduce Surface Area and Volume applet to students who are unfamiliar.
- Make sure that students are using Rectangular Prism under the drop-down menu.
- Note: If students will be using the Compute mode for finding only the surface area of the rectangular prism, be sure to show students the error message that will appear.
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Independent Practice
- Have students open Surface Area and Volume applet to Compute mode and choose Rectangular Prism from the drop-down menu.
- Have students work in pairs to complete the Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism Record Sheet.
- Teacher should monitor the room for questions and make sure that students are on the correct website.
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Closure
- You may wish to bring the class back together to discuss any problems that were especially hard for students to solve. Once the students have been allowed to share what they found, summarize once more the main points of the lesson.
- You may wish to have students discuss the second question on the Record Sheet that asks students to look for a relationship between the volume and surface area of a rectangular prism.
Alternate Outline
This lesson can be rearranged for if there is only one computer available in the classroom.
- Instead of having students complete Record Sheet in pairs, display the Compute mode on a classroom computer, record the dimensions on the whiteboard, and have students work independently to solve for the surface area. Once students have computed the surface area, have one student enter the number to check answer.
Suggested Follow-Up
- This lesson is designed to be followed by a lesson that generalizes the formula for surface area to all prisms.