Giant’s Causeway Maths
Investigation Lesson Plan
Age range: Year 7-9
Time: 1 hour
Overview
This lesson is designed to tie in with a study of the Giant’s Causeway and provides a mathematical focus working with 3D shapes that form columns,
similar to those found at the UNESCO site.
Objectives
• Find the volume and surface area for cuboids
• Calculate and test the formulae for finding the surface area of cuboids using collected data
Before the Lesson
Prior to this lesson, it would be beneficial if the children have some knowledge of finding volume and surface area of 3D shapes. This lesson recaps the
skills needed to find volume and surface area but also allows the children to carry out linked investigations within the Minecraft world and the Giant’s
Causeway setting.
Starter (5-10 mins)
Display an image of the Giant’s Causeway and the pillars of rocks. Explain to the class that the rock formations were formed after an ancient volcanic
eruption and pillar-like structures formed as a result of cooling lava. There are about 40,000 basalt columns, mostly hexagonal, but some have four,
five, seven or eight sides. Explain that these pillars or columns of rock are the stimulus for today's maths lesson.
Paired activity (10 mins)
Split the class into pairs and give each pair 24 multi-link cubes. Ask the pairs to experiment with shapes / columns and find the shape that has the
largest volume and the largest surface area. Recap how to find these, if necessary.
The children will soon realise that all of the shapes will have the same volume but should be able to discuss how to make shapes with larger or smaller
surface areas. Discuss and compare the children's results.
GeoCraft Giant’s Causeway Maths Investigation Lesson Plan
1 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY MATHS
INVESTIGATION Lesson Plan
Age range: Year 7-9
Time: 1 hour
Main activity
Begin at the spawning point. Here they will find an information block to access the tasks. The information block links to a Google document that explains
the tasks that they need to complete.
Task 1
Explain to the class that they are going to carry out a maths investigation using blocks of rock in the Minecraft world. Point out that the columns of rock at
the Giant’s Causeway are represented as cubes. They need to build columns of rocks starting with one block and adding one block at a time to create
taller and taller towers. For each column of rock, they need to work out the volume and surface area, recording each in a table on the Causeway Column
Investigation sheet. Using the information in the table, they then need to work out a formula that will allow them to predict the surface area for any sized
column.
Extension
Any children that complete the first investigation can be encouraged to build tower blocks of 2 x 2, adding a layer each time to build taller and taller towers.
For each pillar, they will also need to work out the volume, surface area and the formula for predicting the surface area and record it on the sheet.
Task 2
Following the investigations, ask the class to then search the Giant’s Causeway area, looking for a 2 x 2 pillar with the largest volume and surface area.
Each tower within the 2 x 2 arrangement might be a different height, therefore the children will need to work out the overall volume and surface area. Once
they think they have found it, ask them to add a sign displaying their name (like a mountaineer claiming a mountain!) and the measurements for the
volume and surface area that is visible.
Plenary
Discuss the formulae that the children have worked out and the process that they went through to find it. Allow the children to wander around virtually
looking at each other's findings. Identify which 2 x 2 pillar has the largest volume and surface area.
Stretch & challenge / extension
Challenge the more able mathematicians to work out the ratios of the different sized columns to the first column from the first task and extension task in
order to complete the tables on the Causeway Column Challenge sheet. Once they have worked out the ratios they can work out a formula to predict the
ratio of the surface area for any sized column to the first column.
GeoCraft Giant’s Causeway Maths Investigation Lesson Plan
2 GIANT’S CAUSEWAY MATHS
INVESTIGATION Lesson Plan
Age range: Year 7-9
Time: 1 hour
Support
Ask the less able children to focus on 1 x 1 towers for both their investigation and exploration of Giant’s Causeway.
Assessment opportunities
•
•
Informal assessment of practical task using multi-link cubes and class discussion.
Formal assessment of completed sheets, showing measurements for volume, surface area, ratio (more able) and formulae.
Key vocabulary
Volume, surface area, units, formula
Maths Curriculum links
Pupils should be able to:
• research and manage information effectively to investigate and solve mathematical problems, using ICT where appropriate
• show deeper mathematical understanding by thinking critically and flexibly, solving problems and making informed decisions, using ICT where
appropriate
Resources (downloaded from www.geocraft.org.uk/giantscauseway)
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Giant’s Causeway image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Giants-causeway-in-ireland.jpg
•
•
Causeway Column Investigation sheet
Causeway Column Challenge sheet
Useful links
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•
•
Encyclopaedia Britannica - http://www.britannica.com/place/Giants-Causeway
KS3 Bitesize Volume of cuboids - http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/measures/volume/revision/3/
Surface area of cuboids - https://www.o2learn.co.uk/o2_video.php?vid=654
GeoCraft Giant’s Causeway Maths Investigation Lesson Plan
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