55 Minute Lesson Plan

Tiffanie Sorrentino and Rikki Olson

February 8, 2016
Find the Volume of a Cone: Mathematics/ Grade 8
Objective: Students will analyze formulas for the volumes of a cone by classifying the
components of the formula and by solving real world and mathematical problems.
Common Core Standard: 8.G.C.9.
Geometry 8.G
Know the formulas for the volumes of cones, cylinders, and spheres and use them to solve real
world and mathematical problems.
3. Research and information fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the
appropriateness to specific tasks
Set
Please answer the following questions. You may use your notes as a reference.
1. What is a radius?
2. Please label the radius on the circle.

3. What is the formula for the area of a circle?

Go over answers with the entire class using Ask-Pause-Call randomly.

Today we are going to take our understanding of a radius and learn the other components
of the formula for the volume of a cone.
Next, we will show the 3D model of a cone and we will explain the part of the volume for
a cone equation that comes from a circle.

Information
Height

Radius
Height

Radius

The diagram above will be used to introduce the formula and the components of the formula.
Have the students pull out a piece of paper and draw the diagrams, label the diagrams, and write
the formula chart.
Area of a Circle Formula
A=r2

Volume of a Cone Formula

1
V= 3 r2h

Popsicle sticks will be used to review the parts and to identify the formulas.
Turn To Your Neighbor
The students will be seated in pairs after the lesson. The students will be grouped by their current
seating assignment, paired with their elbow partners. The teacher will ask a question regarding
the equations of a circle and cone as well as have students label the radius and height in
diagrams. The students will work together to solve the problem and they can use their notes if
they wish. They will be given 30 seconds to decide upon the answer and write it down on a

whiteboard. When I say three after one, two, three, they are expected to sit quietly and raise
their whiteboards. Check for understanding of the procedure to be followed before giving the
students permission to begin.
Check for understanding of activity:
Who are you working with?
How much time per question do you have?
Where do you write the answer when you are finished?
What is the signal that time is up?
Questions for activity:
1) (draw a horizontal cone) and ask the students to copy the diagram and label the radius
2) Have the students draw a vertical cone and label the height.
3) What is the formula for the area of a circle?
4) What is the formula for the volume of a cone?
Information:
Now that we know the parts of the formula, lets find a way to use them to solve the formula. There will be word
problems and diagrams to apply these formulas.
Question:

2 cm

3 cm
Looking at the diagram, what is the volume of the cone? Be able to justify your answer.

Give the students the time to process what is being asked and to formulate their answer with
support. Use Ask-Pause-Call. Have several students summarize their process they followed in
order to get:
1
2
V= 3 ( 2 ) ( 3 )
1
V= 3 ( 4 ) ( 3 )

V= ( 4 )
3

V= 4 units

Pose the next set of questions to the students one at a time using www.triventy.com. Students will
use their laptops to log on to the quiz website. They will be able to select the multiple choice
answer they believe to be correct. When the students have completed their answers, I will be able
to see what they got correct, as well as incorrect. The students will be able to immediate
feedback on how they are doing.
2 cm

6 cm
Question: How will the volume of the cone be solved?
Students will use a blank sheet of paper to solve the problem and then input their answer in
Triventy in a short answer quiz. They will be given four minutes to solve on their paper before

submitting the Triventy online activity. Using an aligned response, we will reinforce the steps to
completing the problem using the formula.
Now that we have an idea on how this works, lets try to use this to solve a word problem.
Question:
Sarahs ice cream cone has a radius of 5 cm and a height of 9 cm. Find the volume of the ice
cream cone.
Question: Does much change between the problems that we did earlier and this one? Justify your
answer.
Use the popsicle sticks to call on students. Using an aligned response, reinforce that nothing
changes between the two types of problems.
Direct the students to solve the equation in their notebook. Inform them their final answer will be
submitted on Triventy.
Guided practice:
The strategy known as Four Corners will be used, although we have modified this activity into
the use of only two sides of the classroom. The teacher will ask a series of questions and the
students will either go to the corner labeled, Strongly Agree, or the other corner labeled,
Strongly Disagree, based off their knowledge of the answer. The teacher will write a problem
on the board. The students will have 3 minutes to solve the problem on a piece of paper and then
the teacher gives the signal 1,2,3 the students will walk quickly and quietly to either corner in
which they agree or disagree with her answer.
Using popsicle sticks, check for understanding with:

Point to the Strongly Agree side.

Point to the Strongly Disagree side.
How will you move from side to side?
How long will you have to solve the problem?
Have two students summarize what is being done.
Questions:
3 cm

7 cm
1. What is the volume?
(After the four minutes, the teacher will say that the answer was 49. Go to the corner
you agree with. Note: the correct answer is 21 because the radius and height were
switched.)
2. Dan has a cherry snow cone. It has a radius of 2 inches and a height of 12 inches. What is
the volume of his cone?
(After the four minutes, the teacher will say the answer was 16. Go to the corner you
agree with. Note: The answer is correct. Reinforce if needed.)
Extended (independent) Practice:
The following problems will be assigned for practice to be completed outside the classroom and
turned in at the beginning of the class tomorrow.
1. What is the formula for the area of a circle?
2. What is the formula for the volume of a cone?
3. Label the radius in the diagram below.

4. What is the value of the height in the diagram below?

25 meters
5 meters

5. Given a radius of 7 cm and a height of 6 cm, what is the volume of the cone?
6. A cone has a height of 8 inches and a radius of 3 inches. What is its value?
7. Cathy has a traffic cone that she is filling with water for a project. It has a radius of 5
inches and a height of 12 inches. What is the volume of water it can hold? (Include units.)
8. Tommy has an ice cream cone with a height of 15 cm and a radius of 5 cm. How much
ice cream can he fit in the cone? (Hint: What is the volume? Please include units.)
Closure
With your elbow partner, solve the equation of a volume of a cone that is written on the board.
(V= 1/3 (62)(4)) Write this on a notecard to turn in as your ticket out the door. Each person
must turn in their notecard!
Materials

Notes from previous lesson

White boards and markers (teacher and student)
Paper
Pencil
Notecards
3D model
Popsicle sticks
Triventy online quiz
Computers
Copies of the independent practice

Assessment

1. What is the formula for the volume of a cone?

2. What part of the volume of a cone equation comes from the formula for the area of
circle?
3. Define the term height.
1
4.
4 is the fraction included in the formula for the volume of a cone. (True or False. If
false, please correct the statement).
5. . is included in the formula for a cone. (True or False. If false, please correct the
statement).
6. Please label the numerical value for the height in the diagram.

7. Using the diagram6 in

ft problem 6, calculate the volume of the cone. Please be sure to
12 ft
include the proper units.
8. Shannon has a cone-shaped vase. It has a radius of 6 inches and a height of 10 inches.
How much water can she put in the vase for her flowers? (Be sure to include correct
units.)