Introduction to the Unit

Unit: Exploring Volume and Surface Area The unit, Exploring Volume and Surface Area, examines three dimensional figures, their characteristics, and determines and applies formulas for calculating volume and surface area of these figures. The unit is designed for the seventh grade class of twenty-six students at St. Anthonys School in Hawthorne, New Jersey, but could be modified for any middle school math class. This seventeen day unit is composed of eight different lessons. The major six day lesson is a culminating project designed as project based learning with instructional technology, in which students apply their knowledge of volume and surface area to create a piata. This unit was designed to allow for critical thinking to occur in the minds of young students. Many students struggle with geometry, especially when forced to conceptualize three dimensional figures. This unit uses manipulatives and technology to promote geometric visualization while encouraging students to make real-life connections to math and the world around them. It involves the students in discovering formulas, allowing them to see the reasoning behind the math. It integrates technology at a high level, getting students accustomed to using technology for educational purposes. Finally, through use of the PBL-IT lesson, it allows students to collaborate while designing and creating a real life object using mathematics.

Getting Started The primary objective of this unit is for the students to be able to discover and apply formulas for volume and surface area of three dimensional shapes. The main goal of the unit is for students to be able to analyze and critically think about three dimensional shapes, as well as calculate volume and surface area of these shapes. To teach this unit, a teacher should be comfortable with allowing students to collaborate and use technology. A teacher should also have access to three dimensional manipulatives, and different forms of technology. The hardware technology used in the lesson includes, but is not limited to: SMARTboards, iPads, laptops, MakerBot Replicator 2, and Internet access. If access to technology is limited, the lesson can be adapted, but may lose some of the exploration activities. The camera function of the iPad is used in some of the lessons, and could be replaced with a different type of camera if iPads are not accessible. Also, different graphing applications on the Internet could replace the GeometryPad app for the iPad. The MakerBot allows for 3d models to be printed, but is not a necessary part of the unit. This unit was designed for a 7th grade class, but can be adapted for any grade level. For a younger grade, a teacher may want to adjust the scaled modeling aspects of the project. For a higher level geometry class, the teacher could add in different three dimensional shapes such as spheres or different polyhedron. Also the models as well as the actual figure can be appropriately scaled into different units. Also, students in higher level geometry classes could coordinate with a wood shop course (or similar course) to create a different object, such as a toolbox or jewelry box. The adaptations to this unit are limitless! To access the materials for this unit first open the file Lets Begin!, and follow the directions.