Popcorn Geometry
This lesson is great to use at the end of a unit to provide a real world activity that the students can relate the cylinder formulas in an engaging activity. The lesson provides an opportunity for students to test their own knowledge of locating relevant information and measurements, combine it with their formulas and make sense of it. Throughout the lesson the students participate in all of the 8 mathematical practices.
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.9
Know the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Mathematical Concepts
Volume of cylinders, area of circle, compare and contrast
Math Procedures
Generate geometric formula for cylinders and circles
Mathematical practices used in the modeling
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
I implement my strategy and if necessary, try a different approach.
look for and make use of structure
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
FInd and use the necessary information
Visualize the information in different representations
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Make reasonable predictions
- Model with mathematics.
Solve problems in everyday life.
Apply what I know and show it in a mathematical problem
- Use appropriate tools strategically
I need to know the tools that are available to me: Calculator, Ruler, Paper for the model.
- Attend to precision.
I need to be precise with my measurements.
I need to be precise with my calculations and round to the same spot if needed.
- Look for and make use of structure.
Make predictions, formulas, relationships
- Look for and express regularity of repeated reasoning.
Aspect of Modeling
1 Make assumptions
- Realize relationships between two objects
- Analyze relationship mathematically
- Interpret the results into context of the problem
- Make improvements to the model
Central Focus-
Justify an argument using geometric equations
Related CCSS. Math
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres
Know the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Learning Targets
Students Will Be Able To:
Use known measurements to find the volume of different cylinders.
Compare volumes of objects.
Problem solve and find information that is not given.
Some possible central foci for this activity
Identify Mathematical Concepts
Volume of cylinders, area of circle, compare and contrast
Identify Math Procedures
Generate geometric formula for cylinders and circles
Why it is engaging:
The lesson meets five of the eight multiple intelligences.
Linguistic: Students are having to explain their processes and their answers to others. They do this in small groups and on the worksheet.
Logical-Mathematical: Students have to find what information they need to solve the problem. They are only given limited information, they have to use that to find the missing information.
Intrapersonal: Students take the information they used to solve the problem to figure out how to make a bigger cylinder that holds even more. They then reflect on the lesson and why their change increases the volume.
Interpersonal: Students work as small groups or partners to come up with the answer.
Spatial: Students create the cylinder that they are trying to find the volume of. They make a physical model of the problem at hand.
Created by Nichole Kealoha, Stephanie Lynes, Kayla Dubois, and Jared Brown