Snap Cubes, Prisms, and Surface Area Oh My!
1. The “Sweet Notions” company wants a box to hold 24 sugar cubes. Using 24 snap cubes to
represent the sugar cubes, create a rectangular prism (box) that could hold the 24 sugar cubes.
Make a sketch of your box below. Label the dimensions.
2. Look at the boxes made. How are the boxes the same?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How are the boxes different?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
The amount of material needed to make or cover a box depends on the box’s surface area. The
surface area of a space-shape is the sum of the areas of each face – top, bottom and sides.
4. What is the surface area of the box you built? _____________
In this investigation, you will determine the surface area of several boxes. Record your information
on the attached lab sheet.
Snap Cubes, Prisms, and Surface Area Oh My!
Record Sheet
Rectangular Prism Color
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
White
Name: _________________________
Sketch
(include dimensions)
Surface Area
(include calculations)
Practice
Name: ________________________
Using the strategies from the investigation, give the dimensions of each figure below and then find
the surface area. Show how you got your answer.
B
A
C
D
E
F
A
B
C
D
E
F
Surface Area Additional Practice
Name: ____________________________
Find the surface area of each figure below. Show your work!
1.
2.
Surface Area = ___________ units2
Surface Area = ___________ ft2
3.
4.
Surface Area = ___________ inches2
Surface Area = ___________ inches2
1. A cereal box is 7 in. wide, 10 in. high and 3
in. deep. How many square inches of cardboard
are needed to make this box?
2. A gift is wrapped in a box measuring 2 inches
high, 12 inches long, and 8 inches wide. What is
the least amount of wrapping paper that will be
needed to cover the box?
Surface Area = ___________ inches2
Surface Area = ___________ inches2
3. How much
cardboard is used to
make the tissue box
at the right?
4. You are making the
jewelry box shown at
the right for your
mother. How many
square centimeters of
wood will be needed to
make the box?
3 in
5 in
9 in
Surface Area = ___________ inches2
Surface Area = ___________ cm2
Snap Cubes, Prisms, and Surface Area Oh My! Answer Key
5. The “Sweet Notions” company wants a box to hold 24 sugar cubes. Using 24 snap cubes to
represent the sugar cubes, create a rectangular prism (box) that could hold the 24 sugar cubes.
Make a sketch of your box below. Label the dimensions.
6. Look at the boxes made. How are the boxes the same?
All have rectangles or squares for faces. The opposite sides are the same size.
7. How are the boxes different?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
The amount of material needed to make or cover a box depends on the box’s surface area. The
surface area of a space-shape is the sum of the areas of each face – top, bottom and sides.
8. What is the surface area of the box you built? Answer will vary
In this investigation, you will determine the surface area of several boxes. Record your information
on the attached lab sheet.
Snap Cubes, Prisms, and Surface Area Oh My! Answer Key
Record Sheet
Rectangular Prism Color
Name: _________________________
Sketch
(include dimensions)
8
Red
2
4
10
20
Surface Area
(include calculations)
20 x 2 = 40 units2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
10 x 2 = 20 units2
76 units2
5
1
Orange
1
1
10
10
1 x 2 = 2 units2
10 x 2 = 20 units2
10 x 2 = 20 units2
42 units2
10
3
3
1
15
5
Yellow
5
6
Green
2
3
12
8
3 x 2 = 6 units2
15 x 2 = 30 units2
5 x 2 = 10 units2
46 units2
6 x 2 = 12 units2
12 x 2 = 24 units2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
52 units2
4
9
White
3
3
9
9
3
9 x 2 = 18 units2
9 x 2 = 18 units2
9 x 2 = 18 units2
54 units2
Practice Answer Key
Name: ________________________
Using the strategies from the investigation, give the dimensions of each figure below and then find
the surface area. Show how you got your answer.
B
A
C
D
E
A
F
B
12
C
1
3
4
8
6
2
20
1
1
5
7
7
5
4
4
7
12 x 2 = 24 units2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
6 x 2 = 12 units2
52 units2
1
1 x 2 = 2 units2
7 x 2 = 14 units2
7 x 2 = 14 units2
30 units2
D
E
20 x 2 = 40 units2
5 x 2 = 10 units2
4 x 2 = 8 units2
58 units2
F
20
8
4
5
4
1
4
25
20
4
16
5
20 x 2 = 40 units2
20 x 2 = 40 units2
25 x 2 = 50 units2
130 units2
4
4 x 2 = 8 units2
4 x 2 = 8 units2
16 x 2 = 32 units2
48 units2
2
4
4
8
2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
4 x 2 = 8 units2
40 units2
Surface Area Additional Practice Answer Key
Name: ____________________________
Find the surface area of each figure below. Show your work!
1.
2.
48
20
5
4
10
8
2
8
6
7
12
20 x 2 = 40 units2
10 x 2 = 20 units2
8 x 2 = 16 units2
76 units2
48 x 2 = 96 ft2
12 x 2 = 24 ft2
16 x 2 = 32 ft2
152 ft2
16
2
Surface Area = 76 units2
Surface Area = 152 ft2
3.
4.
8
4
2
16
8
8 x 2 = 16 in2
8 x 2 = 16 in2
16 x 2 = 32 in2
64 in2
4
24
6
4
108
72
24 x 2 = 48 in2
72 x 2 = 144 in2
108 x 2 = 216in2
408 in2
18
Surface Area = 64 inches2
Surface Area = 408 inches2
1. A cereal box is 7 in. wide, 10 in. high and 3
in. deep. How many square inches of cardboard
are needed to make this box?
2. A gift is wrapped in a box measuring 2 inches
high, 12 inches long, and 8 inches wide. What is
the least amount of wrapping paper that will be
needed to cover the box?
70
96
7
10
21
30
70 x 2 = 140 in2
21 x 2 = 42 in2
30 x 2 = 60 in2
242 in2
3
8
12
16
24
2
96 x 2 = 192 in2
16 x 2 = 32 in2
24 x 2 = 48 in2
272 in2
Surface Area = 242 inches2
Surface Area = 272 inches2
3. How much
cardboard is used to
make the tissue box
at the right?
4. You are making the
jewelry box shown at
the right for your
mother. How many
square centimeters of
wood will be needed to
make the box?
3 in
9 in
5 in
24
15
5
3
45
27
9
Surface Area =
15 x 2 = 30 in2
45 x 2 = 90 in2
27 x 2 = 54 in2
174 in2
174 inches2
8
3
32
12
4
Surface Area = 136 cm2
32 x 2 = 64 cm2
12 x 2 = 24 cm2
24 x 2 = 48 cm2
136 cm2