Education Technology

Give Me a Hand or Leaf Me Alone - TI-83

Subject Area
Math: Geometry: Surface Area and Volume
Level
9-12
Activity Time
60 Minutes
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Other Materials
    This is Activity 5 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Activities for Algebra with the TI-83 Plus.

    The following materials are required for this activity:
  • Card stock paper
  • Scissors
  • Scale or balance that measures in grams
  • Ruler that measures in cm or inches
  • Leaves of various sizes
Resource Types
Lessons

Give Me a Hand or Leaf Me Alone - TI-83

Activity Overview

In this activity, students find the surface area of geometric shapes cut from card paper and relate it to its mass. They use this data to find the surface area of irregularly shaped objects.

Before the Activity

  • Set up the calculator for data collection using the procedure described in the attached Appendix PDF file
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 57 - 65 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Use card stock paper and cut out squares with sides of different lengths
  • Measure the mass of the different square cut outs
  • Enter the mass and area of the squares data as lists
  • Graph a scatter plot and find a linear regression equation for the data
  • Graph the best fit line
  • Calculate the slope
  • Cut out tracings of a hand and a leaf on card stock paper
  • Find the mass of the cut-outs
  • Find the surface area of the hand and the leaf
  • After the Activity

    Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis page and answer questions listed on it.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
  • Subject Area
    Math: Geometry: Surface Area and Volume
    Level
    9-12
    Activity Time
    60 Minutes
    TI Calculator
    TI-84 series
    Other Materials
      This is Activity 5 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
      Activities for Algebra with the TI-83 Plus.

      The following materials are required for this activity:
    • Card stock paper
    • Scissors
    • Scale or balance that measures in grams
    • Ruler that measures in cm or inches
    • Leaves of various sizes
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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