Volume Within Volume

Students need to be able to think about volume both spatially, and mathematically. They also need to model with mathematics. I recently created some problems around volume that have students determining how many smaller boxes will fit into a larger box.

Students can actually think about it spatially and use manipulatives or mentally determine how many smaller boxes will fit, or they can determine it mathematically by finding the volume of both small and large boxes, then dividing. While I was at it, I created many different problems that have students working with volume in a real-world context. The 5th graders I worked with loved working on these problems and began to notice patterns with multiples and factors. 

Math - It Works
TPT Volume Within Volume

Free Formative Assessment Idea

As math teachers, we work really hard to assess whether students are learning, how deep their understanding is, and how well they are self-assessing their own learning. Recently I have been trying a new type (well, new to me) of formative assessment. I used large note cards and put a green, yellow and red circle on one side. 

Towards the end of a lesson, I ask my class to hold up the card with their finger over the color that represents their stage of learning. 

Each color is tied to a specific phrase. 

Red means: "I really don't understand. My learning stopped when......."

Yellow means: "I'm starting to get it. I still don't understand ......."

Green means: I understand it well. I would like to know more about......"

These can be used as exit tickets where students have to write out the answers to whatever color they chose. Once students are adept at pinpointing where they are in the learning process, they can begin to verbalize it - making it easier for us to adjust our instruction.

Math - It Works for Common Core Activities, Assessments, Games and More
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