Optimization of a Cylinder
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The goal of this hands-on activity is for students to discover the relationship between the dimensions of a rectangle and the volume of its cylinder. To do this, they will use the twenty boxes above to create six different rectangles (5x4, 4x5, 2x10, 10x2, 1x20, and 20x1). After recognizing that each rectangle is made up of the exact same number of boxes, students will then create open-ended cylinders out of the rectangles. Do each of these cylinders hold the same number of M&M's (after all, they were created from the same materials!)? Students will then predict which cylinder will hold the most number of M&M's and which will hold the least, and then they will test their hypotheses!
One of the best ways to engage students in math class is to get them involved, and what better way to do that than a hands-on activity! When discussing three-dimensional objects, like cylinders, in the classroom, two dimensional diagrams don't really seem to cut it. Students seem to understand these shapes and their volumes better when they can see them in real-life and hold them in their hands. This experiment not only provides students will many different examples of cylinders, but it also shows them volume in real life. By seeing how many M&M's fit in each cylinder, students can take their volume equation one step further by truly understanding that they are really trying to find out how much "stuff" can fit in to their cylinders.
One of the best ways to engage students in math class is to get them involved, and what better way to do that than a hands-on activity! When discussing three-dimensional objects, like cylinders, in the classroom, two dimensional diagrams don't really seem to cut it. Students seem to understand these shapes and their volumes better when they can see them in real-life and hold them in their hands. This experiment not only provides students will many different examples of cylinders, but it also shows them volume in real life. By seeing how many M&M's fit in each cylinder, students can take their volume equation one step further by truly understanding that they are really trying to find out how much "stuff" can fit in to their cylinders.