The first 10-15 minutes of this section are for students to build a prism and a pyramid. I will have nets ready to cut for prisms and pyramids from a triangular base up to an octagonal base. Before students start working, I will explain how to cut and fold the net for best results. It will help to set a timer so that this process, including cleanup, can be finished quickly. Once the shapes are made, students will complete a table to describe the attributes of each shape. I will give about 30 seconds per shape and then ask students to pass the shapes on. Once we’ve agreed on the attributes, I ask students to describe the various parts of an n-sided prism and pyramid (MP2, MP8). I’d like students to grapple with this independently before seeking help. I will ask: What is the relationship between the sides of the base and the lateral faces, vertices and edges? Students will then be asked to find any attribute of a solid when given another piece of information. Example: A certain prism has 12 vertices, how many sides does the base shape have?
The lesson will conclude with an exit ticket. Students work independently.