Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Volume: Rectangular Prism

Objectives

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to provide a clear and detailed overview of the objectives that students should achieve by the end of the lesson. This will enable focused practical and interactive activities, ensuring that students can apply the theoretical concepts of volume of rectangular prisms in practical and real contexts.

Main Objectives

1. Solve problems involving the calculation of the volume of rectangular prisms using unit cubes.

2. Understand and apply the mathematical formula for volume for rectangular prisms in practical situations.

3. Develop spatial visualization skills by determining how many unit cubes fit into a rectangular prism.

Side Objectives

1. Encourage collaboration and communication among students through group activities.
2. Apply digital technologies to solve mathematical problems.

Introduction

Duration: 15 to 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to introduce the topic in an engaging and interactive manner, sparking students' interest and preparing them for the practical class. By using research on their phones, students connect with the topic in a contextualized and current way. The initial discussion, guided by the key questions, will allow students to share their prior knowledge, promoting collaboration and the joint construction of knowledge.

Warming Up

Calculating the volume of rectangular prisms is a fundamental mathematical concept that allows us to better understand how we occupy and utilize the three-dimensional space around us. Ask students to use their phones to find an interesting fact about the volume of rectangular prisms. Encourage them to share a practical example where this calculation is used in everyday life, such as in product packaging, construction, or interior design. This will help contextualize the importance of the topic, increasing engagement with the subject.

Initial Reflections

1. What is a rectangular prism and how does it relate to volume calculation?

2. What is the mathematical formula used to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism?

3. How can we apply the idea of unit cubes to find the volume of a rectangular prism?

4. In what daily situations is the calculation of the volume of rectangular prisms used?

5. Why is it useful to understand the concept of volume in our daily lives?

Development

Duration: 70 to 80 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to provide students with a practical and engaging experience that helps them apply the concepts learned about calculating the volume of rectangular prisms in real and relevant contexts. Through creative and digital activities, students will have the opportunity to collaborate, communicate, and deepen their understanding in a dynamic and fun way.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Digital Influencer Challenge 

> Duration: 60 to 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop communication and spatial visualization skills, promoting the practical and everyday application of volume calculation while using modern digital tools.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups and create a short video (in the style of TikTok or Reels) explaining how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism, using practical examples from everyday life. Each group should use creativity and humor to make the content interesting, just like a digital influencer would.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Each group should research practical examples of calculating the volume of rectangular prisms in everyday life (e.g., volume of product boxes).

• Plan a short video (1 to 2 minutes) explaining how to calculate the volume of a prism and showing a practical example.

• Record the video using phones, incorporating humor and elements of a digital influencer (using filters, music, etc.).

• Post the video on a private platform or send it to the teacher.

• Watch the videos from all groups and discuss the different practical examples and communication strategies.

Activity 2 - Building Worlds in Minecraft ⛏️

> Duration: 60 to 70 minutes

- Objective: Stimulate student engagement and creativity through a popular gaming platform, developing their spatial visualization skills and application of mathematical concepts in a digital environment.

- Description: Students will use the game Minecraft to create three-dimensional structures, such as houses or buildings, and calculate the volume of these structures using unit blocks within the game. After construction, they must present and justify their calculations.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Each group should access Minecraft and create a three-dimensional structure (like a house or building).

• Students must calculate the volume of the structure using unit blocks from the game.

• Take screenshots or record videos of the construction and the volume calculation.

• Create a presentation explaining the construction and volume calculation.

• Present the construction and calculations to the class.

Activity 3 - Gamification: The Volume Adventure 

> Duration: 60 to 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote problem-solving and teamwork through a gamified experience, making the learning of volume calculation more engaging and fun.

- Description: Students will participate in a digital game created in Google Forms or Kahoot!, where they will solve a series of challenges involving the calculation of the volume of rectangular prisms. The game is themed, based on a fictional adventure where students must solve challenges to 'save the world.'

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Each group must access the digital game created by the teacher.

• Students will solve the challenges presented in the game, applying their knowledge of calculating the volume of rectangular prisms.

• Work as a team to answer the questions and challenges correctly.

• Monitor progress through the platform and offer assistance as needed.

• At the end, discuss the solutions and strategies used by each group.

Feedback

Duration: 15 to 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to promote reflection on the learning acquired, foster communication and collaboration among students, and provide constructive feedback that helps develop individual and collective skills. Through group discussion and 360° feedback, students will understand mathematical concepts better and how to apply them in different contexts, in addition to improving their teamwork skills.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion by asking each group to share their experience carrying out the proposed digital activities. Use the following outline:

1. Introduction:

   • Ask each group to briefly summarize the activity they completed (Digital Influencer Challenge, Building Worlds in Minecraft, or The Volume Adventure).
   • Inquire about the group dynamics and the main challenges encountered.

2. Learnings and Conclusions:

   • Ask students to explain what they learned about the calculation of the volume of rectangular prisms during the activity.
   • Encourage them to share how they related the mathematical concept to practical situations in everyday life.

3. Feedback and Improvement:

   • Ask what they think could be improved in the activity to make the learning even more effective and fun.
   • Request that each group suggest at least one improvement for the activity carried out.

Reflections

1. What were the main challenges you encountered when calculating the volume of rectangular prisms in a digital environment? 2. How did the activity help you understand the concept of volume of rectangular prisms better? 3. In what ways did the digital tools used (videos, Minecraft, games) contribute to your learning?

360° Feedback

Instruct students to participate in a 360° feedback stage where each group member provides constructive feedback to their peers. Guide them to ensure that the feedback is respectful and focused on three main points:

1. Strengths: What did each peer do well during the activity?
2. Areas for Improvement: What could be improved or done differently to enhance group performance?
3. Collaboration and Communication: How was the communication and collaboration among the group members during the activity?

Conclusion

Duration: 10 to 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson in an engaging and memorable way. By reviewing the main content creatively, students connect what they learned to the real world, recognizing the practical relevance of the studied concepts. This reinforces learning and encourages the use of this knowledge in everyday and future situations.

Summary

Lesson Summary: Imagine you are on an intergalactic mission to build a space station. Each module is a rectangular prism that you need to assemble.  During the lesson, we learned how to calculate how many energy cubes fit into each module to ensure the station will operate at maximum efficiency! This includes using formulas, 3D visualizations, and a lot of creativity! 

World Connection

How the lesson connects with the current world: We live in a world surrounded by technology and three-dimensional spaces, from our phones and packaging to augmented reality games and architectural constructions. Understanding how to calculate volumes allows us to solve real and practical problems, such as optimizing space in a city or even in a game! 

Practical Application

Applications in daily life: Knowing how to calculate the volumes of rectangular prisms is incredibly useful for planning and optimizing spaces, whether for storing products, designing constructions, or even programming games and animations. This mathematical skill makes life easier in numerous contexts, making our decisions more efficient and precise. 