Playing With Blocks

CC0 Public Domain
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
February 7, 2017 6:25pm CST
I had a much better day at school than yesterday. Today my students began learning about Surface Area. As an introduction to Surface Area, I had them playing with blocks. The blocks I used are plain wooden blocks about 2 cm on a side. For ease of calculation, I told them each block was one cubic unit and each side measured one unit. I had the students work in teams to build rectangular prisms of various dimensions and then count up how many squares they could see on all six sides. Then we listed top, bottom, front, back, left, and right, and wrote down how many squares were on each. By the time we were done, most of the students seemed to understand how we derived the formula for surface area of a rectangular prism from the information they'd observed. I think it was one of the more enjoyable lessons I've taught in a while. Do you remember learning how to calculate surface area?
14 people like this
12 responses
bonnie
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Feb 17
not really many years 55 in fact out of school. lol
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
8 Feb 17
No, I cannot remember at all, it was too many years ago.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
10 Feb 17
@LadyDuck Some of my students were very proudly coming to me today to show me they'd memorized the formula. I made sure to praise them like it was a very important achievement. You should have seen the smiles.
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DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
My kids wonder if they'll remember it. After the exercises I gave them today, I hope so. They calculated the surface area of 19 different prisms.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
9 Feb 17
@DWDavis I remember very well how to calculate the surface area, I do not remember how we learnt to do that.
1 person likes this
katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Feb 17
No, but math was never my strong suit, and as it got more complicated the less I understood it. Not to mention I haven't used it in years so I've completely forgotten so much of it! I mean I add and subtract everyday at work, but beyond that.. nope, clueless!
1 person likes this
katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Feb 17
@DWDavis I'm sure there are a good number of them. Thankfully I don't work one of those jobs!
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
I asked my students what types of jobs they thought would use surface area. They came up with quite a number of them.
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Feb 17
Glad to hear that the students in your school have decided to learn things instead of trying out for boxing movies.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
10 Feb 17
It was a much better way to spend a day at school.
1 person likes this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Feb 17
@DWDavis Good to know that you are sharing your knowledge with the kids instead of playing referee.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
• London, England
8 Feb 17
While my maths isn't quite up to, I do like to have thought experiments about things like area and volumes in different shapes
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
My students run the gamut from not getting it at all to mastering it the first time they try it. Sadly, it's more of the former and few of the latter.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
@DWDavis Let's hope they the former turn out to be computer whizzes!
1 person likes this
Yadah
@Yadah04 (3480)
• Philippines
10 Feb 17
No i do not remember. But that was very creative and resourceful of you. I thought it was an interesting way to learn.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
10 Feb 17
The students liked it. I wish I had more supplies to do more activities like that.
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 Feb 17
I do not remember the process, but I know I learned to do it. It feels good when you have a good teaching day, I know.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
8 Feb 17
My students always ask me how I remember all the stuff I teach. I tell them it's because I've been doing it so long.
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148701)
• Roseburg, Oregon
8 Feb 17
I do not remember that at all. I have always been good at math. I can add odd numbers and fractions in my head.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
8 Feb 17
You are doing well if you can do fractions in your head. Fractions are my Achilles Heel.
Bobby Larkin
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
8 Feb 17
no I don't remember that but I remember playing with blocks
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
These 7th Graders, once we finished the lesson, had a great time seeing what else they could make from the blocks. They may look near grown, but in their hearts and minds they are still just little kids.
DianneN
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
8 Feb 17
I forgot, but relearned it when I taught it. It's burned into my brain now, lol
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
I think our teacher brains get lots of things permanently burned into them after we teach them often enough.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 17
I don't really but I'm sure we didn't learn it like that. Your way sounds much more interesting. :)
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
The kids enjoyed the lesson and my Principal likes to see lessons like that. It pays to keep her happy.
1 person likes this
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Feb 17
I don't think I ever learned it in the first place!
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
8 Feb 17
My students were able to come up with a number of jobs where knowing how to calculate surface area would be important. Everything from designing a building to painting a room.
1 person likes this