Lesson 1

Volume of Cube Models

Est. Class Sessions: 2–3
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Mathematical Standards

1.OA.A
Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction. (1.OA.A.1, 1.OA.A.2)

Standards for Mathematical Practice

MP1.
Make sense of problems and persevere in
solving them.
MP2.
Reason quantitatively.
MP3.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
MP4.
Model with mathematics.
MP7.
Look for and make use of structure.

Students are introduced to the concept of volume and learn to determine volume by counting connecting cubes. They use connecting cubes to construct different buildings that have a volume of eight cubic units and use number sentences to describe each building.

Content in this Lesson

  • Measuring volume by counting cubic units [E3].
  • Recognizing that different shapes can have the same volume [E5].
  • Sorting shapes by height.
  • Representing volume using number sentences [E2].
  • Developing visualization and spatial reasoning skills [E6].
  • Composing shapes from cubes.
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Materials for Students

Daily Practice and Problems Lesson Homework Assessment

Student Books

 Student Activity Book

Teacher Resources

 Teacher Guide - digital

Supplies for Students

plain cube. See Materials Preparation.
15 connecting cubes of the same color

Supplies for Student Groups

large sheet of paper

Materials for the Teacher

Display of 2-D and 3-D Shapes Master (Teacher Guide)
Display of Rules for Cube Buildings Master (Teacher Guide)
Display of Chicago Skyline Master (Teacher Guide)
Unit 13 Assessment Record
Math Facts Class Record
8 large sheets of paper (e.g., 11-inch by 18-inch sheets of construction paper, newsprint, or chart paper)
chart paper
connecting cubes
photograph of a city skyline, optional

Materials Preparation

Gather Examples of Cubes. Each student will need a cube to examine. Collect various examples for students to examine. Some suggested examples of cubes include sugar cubes, cube shaped blocks, cube shaped boxes, or packs from a set of base-ten pieces.

Build Shapes with Connecting Cubes. Use connecting cubes to build three shapes with the dimensions shown in Figure 1.



Figure 1: Three cube models

Make Sorting Charts. Label eight large sheets of paper as shown in Figure 2.



Figure 2: Paper labeled with the number of floors 1 to 8

Assessment in this Lesson

ASSESSMENT EXPECTATION ASSESSED
Observe
Sort Buildings by Heights
Teacher Guide - digital
E5.
Recognize that different shapes can have the same volume.
Two Buildings
with the Feedback Box
Student Activity Book
Pages 431–432
E2.
Represent the volume of an object using symbols, connecting cubes, and number sentences.
E3.
Measure and estimate volume by building models and counting cubic units.
E5.
Recognize that different shapes can have the same volume.
DPP Item A
Addition Flash Cards: Group B
Teacher Guide - digital
E7.
Demonstrate fluency with the addition facts in Group B
(3 + 0, 4 + 0, 4 + 1, 5 + 1, 6 + 1, 5 + 2, 6 + 2, 5 + 3,
7 + 1, 8 + 1).