Exploring the Volume of a Cylinder

Abstract

During this lesson, students create cylinders of different radii and heights using the Cricut Maker 3. They then test the volume of their own cylinder and compare it to the volume they calculate from the formula. They observe the differences in volume for cylinders with various radii or heights.

This lesson is intended for 8^th grade math, but it could be modified for different grades by changing the shape students work with. For example, 5th graders could use rectangular prisms. Other shapes could include square and triangular pyramids, triangular or hexagonal prisms, and dodecahedrons.