3. Measurement (M)
Sixth Grade
Convert Within Measurement Systems
- M.UN.06.01 Convert between basic units of measurement within a single measurement system, e.g., square inches to square feet.
- From Corner to Corner - Students are supplied with an on-line ruler and must use it to measure the side of a square and a diagonal. Students then need to analyze the data to develop a rule for estimating the length of the diagonal given the length of the side without actually measuring the length. Students then need to consider if the rule would work for other shapes. They also need to reflect on their rule and submit a short explanation of why it works. (This could also be extended to include the Pythagorean Theorem.
- More Tangram Activities - Students will use tangram pieces to complete the following objectives: gain a better understanding of area without formulas, compute the area of polygons by decomposition, gain familiarity with the names of certain polygons (e.g., rectangle, trapezoid, and pentagon), learn the meaning of the term "similar", and will develop geometric intuition.
- M.PS.06.02 Draw patterns (of faces) for a cube and rectangular prism that, when cut, will cover the solid exactly (nets).
- A Review of Basic Geometry: Space the Final Frontier - Planes, Cylindric solids/surfaces, Conic solids/surfaces, Spheres, Platonic Solids, Archimedian Solids, Pentominoes, Symmetry, Views, and Nets, Map Coloring, and Link to Flatland.
- Cool Math - Middle school problem solving activity to construct non congruent triangle in a dot grid. More of an activity to do off line. You print out a sheet of dots. You can't create them online, although solutions are given.
- Exploring Geometric Solids and Their Properties - Outstanding - Geometric solids are all around us. This site starts out by explaining the parts of a solid and gradually builds to constructing similar solids.
- Fractal Tool - Tool to create and change shapes.
- Geometric Constructions - The purpose of this web site is to give students complete directions for using The Geometer's Sketchpad® software to construct the basic geometry constructions encountered in an introductory geometry course. Each sketch is followed by an interactive Java applet. Try dragging various points in the sketch to explore additional cases. The Geometer's Sketchpad® software is available from Key Curriculum Press. Angles, Circles, Inscribed-Circumscribed, Lines, Polygons, Triangles.
- Geometry from the land of the Incas - Pentagons & Pentagrams - This dynamic geometry software provides an environment in which we can explore geometric relationships and make test conjectures. The site also has a section on Geometry Theorems and Problems and quizzes in other areas mathematics.
- Learning about Length, Perimeter, Area, and Volume of Similar Objects - Students experiment with different ratios of side lengths to interpret the changes in perimeter, area, surface area, and volume. They use their data from perimeter and area to make a line graph and then interpret the reasons for differences in the graphs. They also create tables to organize and easily analyze their volume and surface area data to study the relationship between changes in length in both volume and surface area.
- Math.Com (Geometry) - An informational site for teachers and students. There is some interaction for students in the lessons. Students can participate in quizzes at the end of each section. This is the general site for geometry. You will need to choose the area of interest. Great site for middle school geometry.
- Surface Area and Volume - An interactive site for students to compare surface area and volume of different prisms. Student worksheet and teacher lesson plans are included.
- M.TE.06.03 Compute the volume and surface area of cubes and rectangular prisms given the lengths of their sides, using formulas.
- From Corner to Corner - Students are supplied with an on-line ruler and must use it to measure the side of a square and a diagonal. Students then need to analyze the data to develop a rule for estimating the length of the diagonal given the length of the side without actually measuring the length. Students then need to consider if the rule would work for other shapes. They also need to reflect on their rule and submit a short explanation of why it works. (This could also be extended to include the Pythagorean Theorem.
- More Tangram Activities - Students will use tangram pieces to complete the following objectives: gain a better understanding of area without formulas, compute the area of polygons by decomposition, gain familiarity with the names of certain polygons (e.g., rectangle, trapezoid, and pentagon), learn the meaning of the term "similar", and will develop geometric intuition.