Title:   Washington Monument---Fill It Up!! 

Grades:  6, 7, and 8

Subjects:  Mathematics

Learner Outcomes: 1) Students will use problem solving skills
                                      to relate the volume of a large
                                      object in terms of an everyday object
                                  2) Students will find the length, width, and
                                       height to the Washington Monument.

Time Frame:  One class period

Materials:  Research materials on Washington Monument,
                    encyclopedias

Technology:  Internet, calculators

Teacher Notes:

• Students are always impressed with the size of the Washington Monument and can recite the dimensions upon actually visiting the site.  However, it is hard for our students to relate its size to anything in which they are familiar.
• Student research should reveal that the shape of the Monument is an 'obelisk', but for this activity we will use the volume formula for a square based pyramid
• Students should assume the walls are paper thin (have no thickness)
• Students should assume one basketball is one cubic foot
• May need to use an introduction activity of cm cubes and a box

Modifications: Pair special needs students with a buddy.

Enrichment Activities: Students may use actual volumes for girls and boys basketballs and
                                      compare these to calculated class results.

Evaluation/Assessment:  Rubric

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
     Language Arts
          Study Skills  8.144
     Math
          Geometry  7.39  7.42  8.34

National Standards

References: Useful links and resources

Comments:

Created by:    Deb Cooper
                       Arlene Roberts
                       Ann Wilson

                       Webster Springs Elementary
 
 

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6