Surface Area of Rectangular Prisms — Activity Pack

Grade 6 Math · 6.G.4

I can find the surface area of a rectangular prism.

Inside: Word Search, Vocabulary Match, Find & Fix the Error, Exit Ticket, and a Challenge. Answer key at the back.

Word Search — Math Vocabulary

Name: Date:

Find and circle each word. Words go across, down, and diagonally.

PKORJKSYLRXH
YATMHOHFRGRY
BLXUWCLDKFTZ
BSURFACEAREA
CHWGKTXOOHXA
LYCZJSHVPAII
ASCQVFACEMOD
IQMLDHLLQNNJ
PBBPVDRODMUN
RSQNWOLEKUAP
NEYELXKWOQBI
BTKTFXCAMMJY

Find these words:

Vocabulary Match

Name: Date:

Cut out the cards and match each word to its meaning. Or draw a line to connect them.

FaceA flat side of a solid figure.
NetA flat pattern that folds into a solid.
Surface areaThe total area of all the faces of a solid.
Rectangular prismA box-shaped solid with 6 rectangular faces.

Find & Fix the Error

Name: Date:

A student made this mistake:

Mistake: Forgetting to double, so only 3 faces are counted.

1. What did the student do wrong?

2. Fix it. Show the correct work.

Hint for the fix: Every face has a matching opposite face, so multiply the three areas by 2.

Exit Ticket

Name: Date:

1. Find the surface area of a cube with side 2.

2. Find the surface area of a prism 2 by 1 by 1.

Challenge Task

Name: Date:

Find a real box at home, measure it, and find its surface area.

Show your work and explain your reasoning.

Answer Key — Teacher Only

Keep separate from students.

  1. 32 square units (2(4+6+6) = 32)
  2. 96 square units (6 × 16 = 96)
  3. 62 square units (2(15+10+6) = 62)
  4. 68 square units (2(24+6+4) = 68)
  5. 54 square units (6 × 9 = 54)
  6. 160 square units (2(20+50+10) = 160)