Boxed In and Wrapped Up
- Author:
- Mary R. Hebrank
- Subject:
- Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology
- Institution Name:
- Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Duke University
- Collection:
- TeachEngineering
- Grade Level:
- Primary, Secondary
- Grade Sub-Level:
- Middle School
- Grades:
- Grade 7
- Abstract:
Students find the volume and surface area of a rectangular box (e.g., a cereal box), and then figure out how to convert that box into a new, cubical box having the same volume as the original. As they construct the new, cube-shaped box from the original box material, students discover that the cubical box has less surface area than the original, and thus, a cube is a more efficient way to package things. Students then consider why consumer goods generally aren't packaged in cube-shaped boxes, even though they would require less material to produce and ultimately, less waste to discard. To display their findings, each student designs and constructs a mobile that contains a duplicate of his or her original box, the new cube-shaped box of the same volume, the scraps that are left over from the original box, and pertinent calculations of the volumes and surface areas involved. The activities involved provide valuable experience in problem solving with spatial-visual relationships.
- Languages:
- English
- Material Type:
- Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans
- Media Format:
- Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML
- Conditions of Use:
-
Read the fine print
Resources may be used on a nonprofit, non-commercial basis by educators, without any fee or cost to access, link to and use, or in any manner alter, revise, copy, edit, translate or digitize. - Copyright Holder:
- Duke University
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