Area = Length X Width
length
width
Volume
Mass
Mass = the amount of matter in an object
Volume = Length X Width X Height
height
Area
Today we’re going to build a new house. First, we’ll plot out the land it will sit on. Then we’ll determine the correct volume of water to fill a pool in the backyard. So get your swimsuits ready! Finally we’ll move some building supplies around the backyard after determining their mass.
Review the basics of area, volume and mass below and then tap the next button to get started.
Select
HELP!
Touch to show hints.
Congratulations! You’ve used area, volume and mass to plan and build your new house and fill your swimming pool. You even stored all the extra building materials.
Be sure to write down this code word in your logbook.
Cubic
Calculate the total square area of irregular shapes by adding together the square areas of regular shapes contained within.
So we’re going to build a house with a floor plan of 35 square units.
Touch the correct areas on the grid below to highlight where the house will be built. All of the areas you select must connect to each other and total 35 square units. The first square unit is selected for you under the red star.
Selected area:
1
Square Units
↑
↓
0
X
Width
Height
C
There are three options for the amount of water we have available to fill your pool.
Determine the volume of each option by tapping the arrows to select the correct measurements.
0
Volume =
Length X Width X Height
Length
A
=
Measure 3 sides of a cube and multiply those numbers together to determine an object’s volume.
B
24
Look at the pool and calculate the volume needed to fill it. Then select the correct option that will best fill the pool. If you select the best option on the first try, your pool will get a diving board.
16
12
The house is built and your pool filled. Now use a wheelbarrow to move some leftover building materials to storage. Determining the mass of the materials will help to figure out how to move these items in as few trips as possible. You will use the scale below to estimate the mass of each object.
Tap the next button to get started.
Oops! The counter weight doesn’t have enough mass to bring the scale into balance. Tap the return button to try again.
To accurately estimate the cinder block’s mass, tap the correct counter weight to balance the scale.
Perfect! The counter weight of 60 mass units brings the scale into balance.
Write this number in your logbook and tap the next button to continue.
To accurately estimate the box of nails mass, tap the correct counter weight to balance the scale.
Uh-oh! That counter weight has too much mass to bring the scale into balance. Tap the return button to try again.
Great job! The counter weight of 30 mass units brings the scale into balance.
Write this number in your logbook and tap the next button to continue.
To accurately estimate the roll of insulation’s mass, tap the correct counter weight to balance the scale.
Super! The counter weight of 10 mass units brings the scale into balance.
Write this number in your logbook and tap the next button to continue.
Select
Test
?
3
Perfect! Each roll of insulation has 10 mass units, therefore 9 rolls fills the wheelbarrow’s load of 90 mass units.
Tap the next button to continue.
Not quite! Six rolls are only 60 mass units, leaving the wheelbarrow short of its’ maximum capacity of 90 mass units.
Tap the return button to try again.
Now that you know the mass of each item, it’s time to load the wheelbarrow and move the items in as few trips as possible. Your wheelbarrow can handle a total load of 90 mass units. Check your logbook to get the number of mass units in one roll of insulation.
How many rolls of insulation can the wheelbarrow carry at one time?
3
Wow! Each roll is only 10 mass units so three rolls are well short of the wheelbarrow’s maximum capacity of 90 mass units.
Tap the return button to try again.
12
6
9
9
Too heavy! Each roll of insulation has 10 mass units so 12 rolls exceeds the wheelbarrow’s maximum capacity of 90 mass units.
Tap the return button to try again.
12
6
Awesome! Your pool is ready for swimming.
Tap the next button to move on to the next activity.
Ok, there is 1 box of nails and 2 rolls of insulation already in the wheelbarrow.
Using your logbook, reference the mass units for the items. Then decide what else could be carried in the wheelbarrow to maximize the 90 mass unit load. Tap select to make your choice.
While 2 rolls of insulation do not exceed the wheelbarrow’s maximum load of 90 mass units, there is still room to add more mass.
Tap the return button to try again.
Nice pick! The extra box of nails and roll of insulation total 40 mass units maxing out the wheelbarrow’s load.
Tap the next button.
Uh-oh! Adding the cinder block exceeds the wheelbarrow’s maximum load of 90 mass units.
Tap the return button to try again.
Uh-oh, there’s not enough water to dive into your pool. Thank goodness you don’t get the diving board.
Tap the return button to try again.
OMG, you put too much water in and now your backyard is flooded!
Tap the return button to try again.
Hello, I’m Marie, a civil engineer. It’s my job to design buildings and other man-made structures. It’s very important I understand the spaces I’m designing for. That means I need to know the 2 dimensional areas and 3 dimensional volume of the structure being built. Because I’ll be moving a variety of construction materials, I’ll also need to determine their mass.
35
You did it! Your floor plan is complete.
Tap next to figure out the volume of water needed to fill your backyard pool.
Awesome! Your pool is ready for swimming. Dive in using your new diving board.
Tap the next button to move on to the next activity.
Return to main menu