Measure Volume
10 min
Narrative
This Warm-up prompts students to compare solid objects. Students may use informal language to describe the structure and orientation of each object. Later in the lesson, students will have an opportunity to connect their informal language to more formal math vocabulary. During the discussion, connect student’s descriptions of the objects to the strategies they would use to count the number of cubes in each object. The activity gives the teacher an opportunity to hear how students use terminology when describing the structure and orientation of solid objects. During the discussion, ask students to explain the meaning of any term they use, such as “volume.”
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display the image.
- “Pick 3 objects that go together. Be ready to share why they go together.”
- 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
- “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
- 2–3 minutes: partner discussion
- Share and record responses.
Student Task
Which 3 go together?
Sample Response
Sample responses:
- A, B, and C go together because their tallest row or column is 3.
- A, B, and D go together because they have 2 layers.
- A, C, and D go together because they each have 12 cubes.
- B, C, and D go together because they are single objects.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- “We can count the number of unit cubes in an object to measure its volume. A unit cube is a cube with sides that are 1 unit long. We can use them to measure volume.”
- “How many unit cubes are in Object D? How did you count them?” (12. There are 6 on the bottom and 6 on top.)
- “What strategy would you use to count the unit cubes in the other objects?” (In Object A, there are 2 groups of 6. In Object B, there are 2 groups of 6 minus 1. In Object C, there is 1 group of 6, and then there are 4 cubes and 2 cubes.)
Standards
- 5.MD.3.a·A cube with side length 1 unit, called a "unit cube," is said to have "one cubic unit" of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
- 5.MD.C.3.a·A cube with side length 1 unit, called a “unit cube,” is said to have “one cubic unit” of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
15 min
20 min
Knowledge Components
All skills for this lesson
No KCs tagged for this lesson
Measure Volume
10 min
Narrative
This Warm-up prompts students to compare solid objects. Students may use informal language to describe the structure and orientation of each object. Later in the lesson, students will have an opportunity to connect their informal language to more formal math vocabulary. During the discussion, connect student’s descriptions of the objects to the strategies they would use to count the number of cubes in each object. The activity gives the teacher an opportunity to hear how students use terminology when describing the structure and orientation of solid objects. During the discussion, ask students to explain the meaning of any term they use, such as “volume.”
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display the image.
- “Pick 3 objects that go together. Be ready to share why they go together.”
- 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
- “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
- 2–3 minutes: partner discussion
- Share and record responses.
Student Task
Which 3 go together?
Sample Response
Sample responses:
- A, B, and C go together because their tallest row or column is 3.
- A, B, and D go together because they have 2 layers.
- A, C, and D go together because they each have 12 cubes.
- B, C, and D go together because they are single objects.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- “We can count the number of unit cubes in an object to measure its volume. A unit cube is a cube with sides that are 1 unit long. We can use them to measure volume.”
- “How many unit cubes are in Object D? How did you count them?” (12. There are 6 on the bottom and 6 on top.)
- “What strategy would you use to count the unit cubes in the other objects?” (In Object A, there are 2 groups of 6. In Object B, there are 2 groups of 6 minus 1. In Object C, there is 1 group of 6, and then there are 4 cubes and 2 cubes.)
Standards
- 5.MD.3.a·A cube with side length 1 unit, called a "unit cube," is said to have "one cubic unit" of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
- 5.MD.C.3.a·A cube with side length 1 unit, called a “unit cube,” is said to have “one cubic unit” of volume, and can be used to measure volume.