Student pairs are given 10 minutes to create the biggest box possible using one piece of construction paper. Teams use only scissors and tape to each construct a box and determine how much puffed rice it can hold. Then, to meet the challenge, they improve their designs to create bigger boxes. They plot the class data, comparing measured to calculated volumes for each box, seeing the mathematical relationship. They discuss how the concepts of volume and design iteration are important for engineers. Making 3-D shapes also supports the development of spatial visualization skills. This activity and its associated lesson and activity all employ volume and geometry to cultivate seeing patterns and understanding scale models, practices used in engineering design to analyze the effectiveness of proposed design solutions.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about calculating total weight from scales (metric units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to give fourth graders an overview of capacity (metric units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about finding the amount of water with illustrations and calculations (metric units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about comparing lengths in centimeters using a ruler.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about challenge problems - four operations with single units (metric capacities) - word problems.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about choosing the correct unit with liters or milliliters.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about combining units using addition and subtraction (metric units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about comparing capacities in compound units using words (english units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about compound unit multiplication - word problems.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach second graders about conversion word problems (english units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about conversion word problems (english units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting pints to cups.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting gallons to cups.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting large units to small units (english units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting quarts and cups by pictures.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to give fourth graders an overview of conversion between gallons, pints and quarts.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting between kiloliters and liters.

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to give fourth graders an overview of compound unit capacity (metric units).

This short video and interactive assessment activity is designed to teach fourth graders about converting gallons to pints.