Practice Set · Part 1
Determine Surface Area of Prisms
Pick up where we left off
Where we left off
Our goal: With my small group, I can find the surface area of rectangular and triangular prisms — one step at a time, with support.
The big idea: No matter the prism, find the area of every face and add them all together.
Model to copy — Watch me
- My triangular prism has triangle bases (base 6 in., height 4 in.), is 10 in. long, and the two slant sides are 5 in. each.
- Each triangle base is ½ × 6 × 4 = 12, and there are 2 of them: 2 × 12 = 24.
- Now the 3 rectangles: 6 × 10 = 60, 5 × 10 = 50, and 5 × 10 = 50, which add to 160.
- I add the bases and the rectangles: 24 + 160 = 184.
- So the surface area is 184 in². I counted 5 faces because it is a triangular prism.
Start here
You did these with your group. Now do them on your own — the model above is yours to copy.
- 1
Same stepsFinish what the group started. Use the model above, step for step.
Let's try together: Now a rectangular prism: 5 long, 4 wide, 3 tall. How many faces does it have? Top and bottom: 5 × 4 = 20, times 2 = 40. Front and back: 5 × 3 = 15, times 2 = 30. Left and right: 4 × 3 = 12, times 2 = 24. Now add 40 + 30 + 24. What is the surface area? Yes, SA = 94 cm². Surface area always uses square units.My first step is ___ , because the problem asks for ___ .
Show your work - 2
Warm restartSurface area is measured in which type of unit?
- ASquare units (in², cm², ft²)
- BCubic units (in³, cm³, ft³)
- CLinear units (in, cm, ft)
- DNo units are needed
- 3
Warm restartHow many faces does a rectangular prism have?
- A6
- B4
- C8
- D12
- 4
Warm restartA net of a rectangular prism shows six rectangles with areas 12, 12, 18, 18, 24 and 24 square inches. What is the surface area?
- A108 in²
- B54 in²
- C108 in³
- D72 in²
Practice Set · Part 2
Determine Surface Area of Prisms
Keep going
You answered these out loud. Now write them.
Answer, then say how you know — the reason is the part that counts.
- 5
Think it throughWhat is the chest's surface area?
- A32 ft²
- B24 ft²
- C12 ft²
- D16 ft²
Why is that the answer?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 6
Think it throughHow many cans of stain are needed for one chest?
- A1
- B2
- C3
- D0
How do you know?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 7
Think it throughThe carpenter builds a second identical chest. Now how many cans?
- A1
- B2
- C3
- D4
Explain your thinking.
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 8
Back to the modelCompare Capsule A (rectangular, SA = 248 in²) and Capsule C (triangular, SA = 184 in²). Even though they are similar in size, why does the rectangular prism need more paint?
The rectangular prism has ___ faces while the triangular prism has ___ faces. The rectangular prism's SA is ___ in² which is ___ more than the triangular prism's ___ in² because ___.
Practice Set · Part 3
Determine Surface Area of Prisms
Words and reasoning
Word bank · Banco de palabras
Use the words
Fill each blank with a word from the bank.
- The total area of a prism's faces, found with SA = 2B + lateral area, is the ___.
- The total area of all the faces of a solid is its ___.
- A solid with six rectangular faces is a ___.
- A solid with two triangular faces and three rectangular faces is a ___.
Explain the thinking
- 9
Find the mistakeAnother student made this exact mistake in this lesson. Explain why it is wrong, then write what they should have done.
The mistake: A common mistake in Surface Area of Prisms is confusing surface area with volume — multiplying l × w × h (which finds the space INSIDE the prism, in cubic units) instead of adding the areas of all the faces (SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh, in square units). - 10
Say moreFor the triangular prism (base 6, height 4, length 10, slant sides 5), how did you account for the triangular bases AND the rectangular lateral faces?
The two triangular bases together are 2 × (½ × 6 × 4) = ___.
- 11
Change one numberGo back to Part 1 and pick one problem you already solved. Change one number in it, then solve your new version. Show every step.
If ___ changed to ___ , then ___ .
Show your work
Practice Set · Part 4
Determine Surface Area of Prisms
Show what you know
Last check
These two come from Lesson 5.6. If they are shaky, that is the lesson to revisit — not this one.
- 12
Show what you knowQuick check — you've got this: A rectangular prism has l = 8 ft, w = 6 ft, h = 3 ft. What is the surface area?
- A180 ft²
- B144 ft²
- C180 ft³
- D90 ft²
Explain your choice.
I know it is ___ because ___ .
- 13
From Lesson 5.6Quick check — you've got this: A rectangular prism has l = 9 in, w = 5 in, h = 3 in. What is the surface area?
- A174 in²
- B135 in²
- C174 in³
- D87 in²
- 14
From Lesson 5.6How many sheets of wrapping paper do you need?
- A1
- B2
- C3
- D568
Be honest — this tells your teacher what to do next
| I can… | Not yet | Getting there | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| I can find the surface area of rectangular and triangular prisms — one step at a time, with support. | |||
| I can explain why it works: No matter the prism, find the area of every face and add them all together. | |||
| I can talk through each step out loud using a sentence frame and the lesson's key words. |
One question I want to ask my group next time