Browse lesson plans

Commercial and industrial designers: Working with volume

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 3.7

In this lesson, students calculate the volume of a variety of boxes, and calculate the change in volume that would result from a change in the boxes' dimensions.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

By Valerie Davis, Sonya Rexrode, and Monika Vasili.

Giving meaning to volume and surface area

This lesson is designed to help students give meaning to volume and surface area by solving problems using a meaningful situation rather than formulas.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

By Grayson Wheatley.

Inside, outside, and all around

Students will distinguish between perimeter, area, and volume. They will use tangrams and graph paper to create two-dimensional figures that will be measured for area and perimeter. By creating layers of centimeter cubes, the students will explore the concept of volume.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–6 Mathematics)

By Angeli Jarman.

Juicy Juice Box

Students will be able to use their knowledge of volume and surface area through this fun, hands-on activity.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Mathematics)

By Sheila Martin.

Modeling volume

This activity helps the students see how the volume of something includes the third dimension (width or depth) which is different from area. This activity also helps the students "prove" that the volume formula actually works. Students will already know that the volume of a rectangular prism is found by multiplying the object's length, width, and height. By using the blocks as models of volume, the students should come to realize that volume can be calculated simply by multiplying the area of the base by the height of the rectangular prism. Thus, they will come to realize that there is no need to try and fill the entire box with the tiny 1cm cubes, they can simply fill the bottom (to see how many cubes are there) and figure out how many rows there will be and multiply.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

By Erin Foerster.

Post-EOG activities: Student products

In this project, students will become entrepreneurs. They will have a business that makes items with 3-dimensional shapes. They will receive various tasks that will require that they make decisions as any other business owner would have to do.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Mathematics)

By Geneva Williams.

Slice it! Rotate it!: Volumes of revolution

The students will first view the animated slicing and rotating of various area about the x-axis or about different lines at internet sites. Then the student will complete a lab experience in which various food items will be examined as to what planar region created them.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Mathematics)

By Sharon Whitted.

Resources on the web

A brownie bake

Students determine the amount of each ingredient needed to make brownies, and then they figure out how to divide the brownies evenly among their classmates. In addition to reinforcing measurement skills, this activity could also be used to introduce prime... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Collecting the rays

In this lesson, students explore how variations in solar collectors affect the energy absorbed. They make rectangular prisms that have the same volume but different linear dimensions. Students investigate relationships among the linear dimensions, the area,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Cylinders and scale

In this lesson, students learn about the extreme limits of scale. This lesson is designed to build upon students' ability to build structures and to learn about mathematical and engineering relationships like length, area, and volume. Once students have... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: Science Netlinks

Drop by drop

In this lesson, the third of a five-part unit from Illuminations titled “Magnificent Measurement,” students recognize and use the attributes of volume. They engage in activities that promote understanding of how to measure volume using standard... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Estimating volume by counting on Frank

In this lesson, one of a five-part unit from Illuminations titled “Mathematics and Children's Literature,” students participate in activities in which they focus on connections between mathematics and children's literature. They listen to the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Learning about length, perimeter, area, and volume of similar objects using interactive figures: Side length and area of similar figures

This two-part example illustrates how students can learn about the length, perimeter, area, and volume of similar objects using dynamic figures. In this part, Side Length and Area of Similar Figures, the user can manipulate the side lengths of one of two... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Water, water

Students compare the amount of water they use in daily life with the amount allotted for each person each day on a Space Shuttle. Then, they estimate and measure the weight of, and amount of space occupied by, a gallon of water. They collect, organize,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations