Surface Area of a Can Activity

Materials

• can of any size
• paper
• pencil
• scissors
• ruler
• cardboard tube

Lesson

Students work with a partner. Begin by cutting the cardboard tube down one side. Unroll. What shape is it when unrolled. Next, trace the top and the bottom of the can on paper, and cut out. Now make a rectangle the same height as the can. Cut out rectangle and wrap the rectangle around the can. Cut off the excess paper so the edges just meet. Make a net for the can. Name the shapes in the net.How are the dimensions of the rectangle related to the dimensions of the can? Explain how to use the net to find the surface area of the can.

Have students find the area of each part of the net in order to develop a formula for the surface area of a cylinder.