Cones & Cylinders Math Lab

Grades: 6th Grade and up.

Summary: Integrate Harry Potter themes into some great geometry
lessons. Designed for 6th Grade
TEACHER NOTES AND SUPPLIES
TASK ONE:
Supplies: notebook paper and examples of cones, cylinders, and
nets
TASK TWO:
Supplies: chart paper, measuring tape, calculator, drawing paper,
scissors, and straight-edge
Notes: Review mean, median, mode
Discuss what a prototype is
Discuss perspective (top, bottom, side)
TASK THREE:
Supplies: cans of fruit, vegetables, soda, etc. paper towel rolls,
Notes: Discuss appropriateness
3-D
Perspective (top, bottom, side)
Radius, diameter, circumference, lateral surface area
TASK FOUR:
Supplies: paper plates, scissors, compass, protractor, calculator,
tape, scales & weights, rice, and graph paper
Notes: Discuss how to find the exact middle of the paper plate.
Radius and midpoint
Review how to draw angles

Review converting fractions to decimals to percents

Review x and y-axis
Review what are appropriate intervals
Review volume
TASK FIVE:
Supplies: notebook paper
TASK SIX:
Supplies: notebook paper and worksheets from previous tasks
Notes: Review the parts of a friendly letter
CONES & CYLINDERS MATH LAB
You have been employed by Cooks Chapeau & Cloak Shoppe on
Diagon Alley to create prototypes for the next school year at
Hogwarts. Mr. Ollivander is getting ready to retire and he has asked
that you take over the store and business.
You will have several tasks to complete. You will need to create a
net for a witch or wizards hat (cone), a net for a childs size wand
(cylinder), and to determine what is the best cost efficient size for a
students cauldron.
We will gather data for hat sizes together in class, but you will need to
record all of the data on your report form.
TASK ONE : BRAINSTORMING
On a piece of notebook paper, write whatever pops into your head
about CONES and CYLINDERS. Think about where you see them,
how they are used, etc. Make sure to consider each shape as if it
were rotated, translated, or reflected.
After you have completed your list, create a working definition of a
net. Discuss your definition with the others at your table to see if you
need to make any revisions. When you are satisfied with the

definition, discuss where and why nets are used in a real world
setting.
TASK TWO: HATS AND HAT SIZES
You will need to record your classmates head size (circumference in
cm) from the chart paper. Next, take the raw data and organize it in
order from least to greatest or greatest to least. After your have
organized the data, determine what the mean, median, and mode is
for the class.
Why would these statistics be needed to determine a prototype?
Would you consider the mean, the median, or the mode? Why?
Birthday party hats, New Years Eve party hats and snow cone cups
are cones without bases. DRAW the cone in three different
perspectives (top, bottom, and side). If we cut a party hat and lay it
flat, what shape would it be? Use a straight cut line on the cone from
bottom to top. The cut that you are making will represent the slant
height. The point at the top is called the apex.
Open it up and lay it flat. What do you observe? LABEL the slant
height of the cone.
CALCULATE what the area of the base would be if it existed.
TASK THREE: WANDS
Labels from a soup can or a paper towel roll are cylinders without
bases. Your task is to work backwards and create a net for a wand.
Brainstorm what would be an
appropriate length and circumference for the wand so it can be easily
held and still remain lightweight. Once you have created your 3-D
prototype, draw the wand in three different perspectives (top, bottom,
and side views). Next, open the wand and lay it flat. What shapes
make up a cylinder? On your wand model, LABEL the radius and

diameter of the bases. What is the circumference for each circle

base? COMPUTE the lateral surface area for the wand. Explain the
relationship of the circular bases to the lateral surface. Does it make a
difference where the circle shapes are located on the net?
TASK FOUR: CAULDRONS
For this experiment you will need paper plates, scissors, a compass
and a protractor to make various sizes of cauldron prototypes. The
cauldron will be an inverted cone. After you have created the cones,
you will be doing some calculating and measuring.
Take a paper plate and find the exact middle. What are some
strategies or techniques that might be used to accomplish this task?
Draw a radius line from the midpoint to the edge of the plate. Use
your protractor and draw the angle on the paper plate. Cut out the
angle and save both pieces. Carefully tape one of the pie pieces on
the cut lines to make a cone. Do NOT overlap edges when you are
taping. This will cause a measurement error later. Tape the cone on
both sides for support.
After you have made the cones, stop and complete the table.
ANGLE In degrees FRACTION OF THE CIRCLE DECIMAL FORM
PERCENT FORM ANGLE In degrees FRACTION OF THE CIRCLE
DECIMAL FORM PERCENT FORM
30 330
45 315
60 300
90 270
120 240
135 225
150 210
180 180
225 135

270 90
What was the circumference for the paper plate before you did any
cutting?
Which cone was the most difficult to construct? Why?
MEASUREMENT
Once you are sure your cones will support weight, get a scale and
gram stackers. Fill each cone with rice and record the weight in
grams.
GRAPHING
A. The fraction of the circle will be the TITLE for the x-axis
(horizontal). Be sure the scale is correct. Hint! Look at the
denominators.
B. The volume will be the TITLE for the y-axis (vertical).
C. Should you connect the dot plots? Why or why not?
D. Make three observations based on the results of the graph.
E. In your opinion, which cauldron would be the most cost efficient
to mass- produce for the students at Hogwarts?
TASK FIVE: PROBLEM SOLVING
Reflect on the four tasks you have completed thus far. Using a T-chart
format, make a list of the problems you had in the left column. In the
right column, describe how you solved your problems.
TASK SIX: EVALUATION
Write a friendly letter to Professor Dumbledore describing your
recommendations for the school supplies of hats, wands, and
cauldrons. Support your recommendations using the data you
gathered while completing the five tasks. Dont forget to include
vocabulary, formulas, and statistics to solidify your recommendations.
Submitted by: Linda D. Cook