Activity Detail
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Yards of Tin
 


Activity Overview

Students solve a problem involving surface area of cylinders. They find the surface area and the amount of tin needed to make the cylindrical parts of ten long open pipes.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 78 - 86 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • Review the four steps of problem solving with students

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:
  • Read the problem and understand the dimensions of the ten longest pipes in the concert organ
  • Cut a cardboard or paper towel cylinder along its height to form a rectangle
  • Relate the surface area of the cylinder to the area of a rectangle
  • Find the scale of the drawing that shows the length and the width of the concert organ pipes
  • Find the height, diameter, and circumference of the ten longest pipes
  • Calculate the surface area and the square footage of tin needed to make the cylindrical part of the pipes
  • Create a chart with the details of the height, diameter, circumference, and surface area of the pipes
  • Write an explanation about the solution


    • Finding surface area
  • Solve problems involving calculation of surface area of cubes and open cylinders

    		After the Activity

    		Students examine the various solutions presented.

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    Subject Area:
    Math : Elementary Math : Geometry
    Math : Elementary Math : Number Sense and Estimation
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Problem Solving
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Number Sense
    Math : Middle Grades Math : Geometry

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8, K-4

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-15 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 13 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    A World of Mathematics: Activities for Grades 4, 5, and 6 Using the TI-15

    The following materials are required for this activity:

  • Drawing of the Lay Family Concert Organ
  • Rulers


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