Examples of what pupils should know and be able to do
Probing questions
How do you go about finding the volume of a cuboid?
How do you go about finding the surface area of a cuboid?
'You can build a solid cuboid using any number of interlocking cubes.' Is this statement always, sometimes or never true? If it is sometimes true, when is it true and when is it false?
For what numbers can you only make one cube? For what numbers can you make several different cubes?
What if pupils find this a barrier?
Ensure that pupils know the correct formulae for areas, perimeters and volumes and how to work them out.
Encourage pupils to use interlocking cubes to make shapes with various volumes. Ensure that pupils realise that three-dimensional objects have surface area as well as volume.
Give pupils opportunities to explore problems of fixed volume, e.g. 'A cuboid is made from 72 cubes. What is the largest surface area?'
<< Previous Step | Next Step >>