Why not give surface area of cylinders a sporting chance in your classroom? A strategic problem-solving task requires pupils to consider the net of a cylinder. Individuals must determine the sizes of the pieces needed to make a sports bag, including the amount needed for the seams. They then figure out the least amount of material needed in order to cut out the pieces.

Concepts

surface area, surface area of cylinders, sewing, sewing patterns

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Build the bag from the sizes given in the answer so the class can see that it actually does work
• Have a discussion on why the rectangular piece should not be 64 cm by 95 cm, using 29 cm as the diameter of the round end

Classroom Considerations

• Surface area of cylinders is not directly contained in the CCSS, but pupils should be able to determine that the rectangular piece must go around the circumference of the circle

Pros

• The resource provides analyzed work that may be similar to work you see from your class
• The rubric provides suggestions on how to split the points for each portion of the answer

Cons

• The key shows how to lay out the pieces on a one-meter piece of cloth, though the answer for the question is that it would fit on 83 cm of cloth

Common Core

7.G.B.4 7.G.B.6 MP2 MP3 MP6 MP7