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Purple Prisms

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L262

A lesson plan for grades 6–8 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics


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In order for students to better understand scale factor and surface area of various rectangular prisms, they manipulate the scale factor that links two three-dimensional rectangular prisms to learn about edge lengths and surface area relationships. Illuminations provides an activity sheet, detailed instructions, and a link to an applet to use in the lesson.

Students will:

  • Explain surface area of a rectangular prism.
  • Describe the relationship between the scale factor and the surface area of two similar rectangular prisms.
  • Use the applet graph to explain the relationship between the scale factor and the surface area of two similar rectangular prisms.
  • Create pattern units of squares, predict how patterns with different numbers of squares will appear when repeated in a grid, and check their predictions.
  • Analyze how repeating patterns are generated.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Use geometric models to represent and explain numerical and algebraic relationships.
  • Use visual tools such as networks to represent and solve problems.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 3: Geometry -The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of geometric figures in the coordinate plane.
    • Objective 3.03: Transform figures in the coordinate plane and describe the transformation.
    • Objective 3.04: Solve problems involving geometric figures in the coordinate plane.

Grade 7

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will understand and use properties and relationships in geometry.
    • Objective 3.01: Using three-dimensional figures:
      • Identify, describe, and draw from various views (top, side, front, corner).
      • Build from various views.
      • Describe cross-sectional views.
    • Objective 3.02: Identify, define, and describe similar and congruent polygons with respect to angle measures, length of sides, and proportionality of sides.
    • Objective 3.03: Use scaling and proportional reasoning to solve problems related to similar and congruent polygons.

Grade 8

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will understand and use properties and relationships in geometry.