Rockin’ Raisins- 8.7B
Today your job is to EXPLORE surface area. We’ll start with a rectangular
prism – a raisin box. Please follow the directions carefully.
1. Take out the raisins and eat them! (This is VERY important.)
2. Flatten the box by cutting along an edge. It should look like a net.
3. What is added to this net that is not usually included in the net of a rectangular prism?
Why? Cut it off and throw it out. The tabs/flaps on the box.
4. Trace the net below.
5. Cut along the edges of the box and create separate rectangles. How many rectangles
will there be? _______six________
6. Measure each rectangle and write your measurements on your net below. Label each
face (Front, back, top, bottom, left side, right side) on the net below.
Net of the Raisin Box
1
7. Calculate the area of each rectangle/face.
Face
Length
Width
Area
Front
Back
Top
Bottom
Left side
Right side
8. How can you calculate the total area of all the faces? Calculate the total area and show
your calculations below (even if you used a calculator).
9. Can you think of an easier way to find the total area of the raisin box? Explain your
thinking below.
10. What is surface area? Discuss with your group and write a definition.
Surface Area is…
2
Surface Area of a ___Triangular____ Prism
A drawing of a net of a prism is below.
1. What unit are the measurements of this figure? centimeters
2. What is the shape of the base? triangle
3. What is the formula for finding the surface area of a __triangular__ prism?
4. What is the area of the base? 1.73 cm2
5. What is the total surface area of this figure? 27.46 cm2
2”
3