Unit 10 · Standard 6.G.2
Volume with Whole Number Edges Flagship
Class Legacy Mission
Seal the Time Capsule
You are the lead builder for the school's 50-year time capsule project. Every memory must fit inside rectangular containers, and the principal needs to know exactly how much each one holds before they are buried. Master volume and the capsule gets sealed for the future.
Key Vocabulary Level 1 support
Picture first, then the word, then a plain-language meaning. Say each word out loud.
A box 3 × 2 × 4 holds 24 unit cubes, so V = 24 cubic units
Volume
How much space is inside a solid shape.
A cereal box or shoe box — it has length, width, and height
Rectangular prism
A solid box shape with six flat rectangle sides.
A tiny cube that is 1 in × 1 in × 1 in = 1 in³ (one cubic inch)
Cubic units
The units used to measure space inside, like cubic inches.
V = l × w × h: for a box 5 × 3 × 2, volume = 30 cubic units
Length, width, height
How long, how wide, and how tall a box is.
A cross-shaped pattern of 6 rectangles folds into a rectangular box
Net
A flat shape that folds up into a solid.
A cube has 12 edges — 4 along the top, 4 along the bottom, 4 vertical
Edge
The line where two flat sides of a solid meet.
Key Ideas & Notes
- Your team is building time capsule containers to store class memories.
- Each container is a rectangular prism, and you need to figure out how much each one can hold.
- That means calculating the volume using whole number dimensions!
- Calculate the volume of each time capsule container. Use V = l × w × h.
Think About It
- What three measurements do you need to find the volume of a box?
- What does volume tell us about a container?
- How is volume different from the area of one face?
My Notes
Guided Examples
Example 1
What is the volume of a rectangular prism with l = 7 in, w = 3 in, h = 4 in?
Solution: V = l × w × h = 7 × 3 × 4 = 84 cubic inches.
Answer: A. 84 in³
Example 2
A time capsule box has a volume of 120 cm³. Its length is 10 cm and width is 4 cm. What is its height?
Solution: V = l × w × h → 120 = 10 × 4 × h → 120 = 40h → h = 3 cm.
Answer: A. 3 cm
Example 3
Which unit is used for volume?
Solution: Volume measures 3D space, so it uses cubic units like in³. Square units (in²) are for area, and inches are for length.
Answer: A. Cubic inches (in³)
Write About the Math The Writing Revolution
I can explain my work using the words volume, rectangular prism, cubic units, and edge.
1. Kernel Sentence subject + verb
Model: Volume is how much space is inside a solid shape.Volumen es cuánto espacio hay dentro de una figura sólida.
Write a kernel sentence about volume. Use a subject and a verb.Escribe una oración base sobre volumen. Usa un sujeto y un verbo.
2. Sentence Expansion because · but · so
Kernel: Volume matters in mathVolumen importa en matemáticas
Expand the kernel three ways. Add a reason, a contrast, and a result.
Volume matters in math because ___.Volumen importa en matemáticas porque ___.
Volume matters in math, but ___.Volumen importa en matemáticas, pero ___.
Volume matters in math, so ___.Volumen importa en matemáticas, entonces ___.
3. Sentence Types 4 ways to write a math idea
Tell one true fact about volume.Di un hecho verdadero sobre volume.
Volume ___.
Ask a question about volume.Haz una pregunta sobre volume.
How does ___ ?¿Cómo ___ ?
Show excitement about volume.Muestra entusiasmo sobre volume.
Wow, ___ !¡Guau, ___ !
Tell a partner what to do with volume.Dile a un compañero qué hacer con volume.
First, ___ .Primero, ___ .
4. Explain Your Reasoning use a sentence starter
I know ___ because ___.Sé que ___ porque ___.
First I ___, then I ___.Primero ___, luego ___.
This is important because ___.Esto es importante porque ___.
Try It
Solve on your own. Check the answer key when you are done.
1. Which unit is used for volume?
- Cubic inches (in³)
- Square inches (in²)
- Inches (in)
- Degrees (°)
2. Two storage bins: Bin A is 8 × 6 × 5 inches. Bin B is 9 × 4 × 7 inches. Which holds more and by how much?
- Bin B by 12 in³
- Bin A by 12 in³
- Bin B by 24 in³
- They hold the same
Stretch Your Thinking Level 2 enrichment
Challenge task — explain your reasoning in full sentences.
A box needs to hold exactly 60 cubic inches. Give three different sets of whole-number dimensions that work. Which set would make the box closest to a cube shape? Why might that matter?
Sentence starter: Option 1: ___ × ___ × ___. Option 2: ___ × ___ × ___. Option 3: ___ × ___ × ___. The ___ option is closest to a cube because ___. This matters because ___.
Reflect — Exit Ticket
A rectangular prism has l = 11 in, w = 5 in, h = 4 in. What is the volume?
- 220 in³
- 55 in³
- 220 in²
- 200 in³
Answer Key & Teacher Guide
- Try It 1: A. Cubic inches (in³) — Volume measures 3D space, so it uses cubic units like in³. Square units (in²) are for area, and inches are for length.
- Try It 2: A. Bin B by 12 in³ — Bin A: 8 × 6 × 5 = 240 in³. Bin B: 9 × 4 × 7 = 252 in³. Bin B holds 12 in³ more.
- Exit Ticket: A. 220 in³ — V = 11 × 5 × 4 = 220 cubic inches. Remember: volume uses cubic units (in³).
Writing (TWR) — what to look for
- Kernel sentence: A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb. Example: Volume is how much space is inside a solid shape.
- Expansion: because gives a reason, but shows a contrast or exception, so shows a result. Answers vary; each must keep the kernel idea and add the correct kind of detail.
- Sentence types: Statement ends with a period, question with "?", exclamation with "!", and a command starts with an action verb (a "bossy" verb).