Figures Made of Prisms
10 min
Narrative
This Warm-up prompts students to carefully analyze and compare features of figures built from rectangular prisms. In making comparisons, students have a reason to use language precisely (MP6), and refer to different measurements of the figures, their volume, or other characteristics.
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display the image.
- “Pick 3 figures 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:
- They have a volume of 12 unit cubes.
A, B, and D go together because:
- They are 3 units high.
A, C, and D go together because:
- They are figures other than rectangular prisms.
B, C, and D go together because:
- They can be cut into 2 equal layers.
- They are made up of 2 rectangular prisms.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- Refer to Figure C. “Today we are going to find the volumes of figures made up of two or more rectangular prisms. Where do we see two rectangular prisms in Figure C?”
- If possible, draw over the image as students explain where they see the two prisms.
- If no one mentions it, show two different ways that Figure C can be decomposed into two right rectangular prisms, that is, by cutting vertically or horizontally.
Standards
Addressing
- 5.MD.5.c·Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two non-overlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems.
- 5.MD.C.5.c·Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two non-overlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems.
20 min
15 min
Knowledge Components
All skills for this lesson
No KCs tagged for this lesson
Figures Made of Prisms
10 min
Narrative
This Warm-up prompts students to carefully analyze and compare features of figures built from rectangular prisms. In making comparisons, students have a reason to use language precisely (MP6), and refer to different measurements of the figures, their volume, or other characteristics.
Launch
- Groups of 2
- Display the image.
- “Pick 3 figures 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:
- They have a volume of 12 unit cubes.
A, B, and D go together because:
- They are 3 units high.
A, C, and D go together because:
- They are figures other than rectangular prisms.
B, C, and D go together because:
- They can be cut into 2 equal layers.
- They are made up of 2 rectangular prisms.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
- Refer to Figure C. “Today we are going to find the volumes of figures made up of two or more rectangular prisms. Where do we see two rectangular prisms in Figure C?”
- If possible, draw over the image as students explain where they see the two prisms.
- If no one mentions it, show two different ways that Figure C can be decomposed into two right rectangular prisms, that is, by cutting vertically or horizontally.
Standards
Addressing
- 5.MD.5.c·Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two non-overlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems.
- 5.MD.C.5.c·Recognize volume as additive. Find volumes of solid figures composed of two non-overlapping right rectangular prisms by adding the volumes of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems.