Today's Classroom Activities :

Area, Volume, and Shape

My Work Area
Math Reinforce the meaning of area by having students measure the area encompassed by their desk or work table. Use that measurement to make an "area" rug from large bulletin board paper or ask local carpet dealers to donate samples that students can measure for the closest fit. Require students to keep all their belongings within the area delineated by the area rug. You can extend this activity by making area rugs for a pet center, art center, private reading spot, etc.

Area and Volume
Students will be able to describe the difference between area and volume and also be able to understand how various units of measure relate to one another.

Building A Box
This lesson uses a real-world situation to help develop students' spatial visualization skills and geometric understanding. Emma, a new employee at a box factory, is supposed to make cube-shaped jewelry boxes. Students help Emma determine how many different nets are possible and then analyze the resulting cubes.

Area and Volume
Students will be able to describe the difference between area and volume and also be able to understand how various units of measure relate to one another.

Parachutes: Is It Surface Area or Shape?
In small groups, students will investigate how the surface area and shape of a parachute affects its descent. Students will construct parachutes of different shapes containing the same surface area, drop them, and measure their time of descent. Students will also construct several parachutes of the same shapes but different surface areas, drop them, and measure their time of descent. Data will be collected in chart form and then graphed. The charts and graphs will be used to make inferences about the surface area and shape of parachutes and their time of descent.