Rectangular Prisms

By Harry Marshall

Summary

• Accompaniment to Glencoe’s Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 1

• Chapter 14 – Geometry: Measuring Area and Volume

• Lesson 14-5 – Volume of Rectangular Prisms• Lesson 14-6 – Surface Area of Rectangular

Prisms • 6th Grade Intensive Mathematics

Sunshine State Standards

MA.A.3.3.2-1, MA.A.3.3.2-2, MA.A.3.3.3-1, MA.A.3.3.3-2, MA.B.1.3.1-1, MA.B.2.3.2-2, MA.C.1.3.1-5, MA.C.1.3.1-6, MA.C.2.3.1-1, MA.C.3.3.1-1

Prerequisite Skills and Supplies

• Basic Understanding of Computers

• Internet Access on a Computer with Java Installed

• Familiarity with Concept and Formulas for the Volume and Surface Area of Rectangular Prisms

• Familiarity with Algebraic Equations

Objective

• To provide students with practice calculating volume and surface area of prisms with a visible manipulative that demonstrates how a change in one dimension will affect both the surface area and volume of a prism. without the need for costly manipulatives.

Key Terms

• Surface Area• Volume• Faces• Edges

• Vertices• Net

Activity

• Rectangular Prisms - Volume and Surface Area

Use the rectangular prism formulas below to answer the questions at the bottom of the

worksheet. Then drag the sliders and check your answers.

Volume = LWHSurface Area = 2LW + 2 LH + 2 WH

Rectangular Prisms

Questions

1. What is the volume of a prism with a length of 5 units a width of 8 units and a height of 6 units?2. What is its surface area?3. Create a prism of different dimensions that has the same volume as the 5x8x6 prism.4. Is its surface area the same? greater? less?

*Beyond the Basics*

5. If you had to manufacturer the boxes to hold 216 cubic units of product, what are some of the options for box dimensions?6. Which box design would use the least material?

Key Questions

Compare / Contrast using the formulas learned in class for solving problems of surface area and volume of rectangular prisms with using the Geogebra web worksheet?

• Do prisms with the same volume necessarily have the same surface area? (No, it may vary greatly).

Assessment

• The answers to the questions are to be turned in and graded by the teacher and returned to the students with feedback.

• A participation grade can also be given for the class discussion.

Supplemental activities lesson

• Extensions to the lesson could include measuring the volume and surface area of real objects (e.g. the volume and surface areas of a picnic cooler, classroom, or suitcase.

• They could be asked to obtain measurements of items at home, such as their oven, microwave, or refrigerator and bring in the results to compare with classmates.

• Extensions to the activity should include practice with a variety of actual units, both metric and customary.