Building rectangular prisms

Today we built rectangular prisms with a volume of 300 cubic centimetres. We used file folders as our building material, and connected them up with tape.

Groups had different approaches to building. Some made nets and folded them up, and others made 6 individual faces to connect with tape.

groups were encouraged to be creative with their dimensions so we’d have lots to discuss at the end.

Groups then calculated the surface area for their prism, and wrote that on the surface. Then we collaborated to put them in order according to surface area.

We noticed that the biggest surface area was the ridiculously long prism, and then the smallest area was the cube. We talked about how to find the side length for a cube using the cube root calculator button.

We talked a bit about how to minimize the cost of packaging, by making objects more cubelike if possible. We also talked about why maybe making everything a cube is not the most realistic, there are ergonomic concerns with a cube shape box of breakfast cereal or a cube shaped juice box.

Next week we will be building square based pyramids with the same volume of 300 cubic centimetres.