Comparing volumes with unit cubes

The  exercise appears under the 5th Grade Math Mission. This exercise practices measuring three-dimensional shapes in terms of volume by using unit cubes.

Types of Problems
There are two types of problems in this exercise:


 * 1) Tell the volume of the solid figure: This problem provides a diagram that is split into unit cubes. The student is asked to correctly identify the volume of the figure and write it in the space provided.Cvwuc1.png
 * 2) Compare the volumes of the solid figures: This problem provides two solid figures that are split into unit cubes. The student is asked to identify which figure has more volume, or if the volumes are the same.Cvwuc2.png

Strategies
Counting is the only skill necessary to complete this exercise, although volume formulas can help to find prism volumes more quickly.
 * 1) There is no trick holes on these problem, assume a prism is a prism.
 * 2) A rectangular prism has volume of length times width times height.
 * 3) When comparing, it is sometimes possible to see one shape as an extension of the other. The extension figure would consequently have greater volume.

Real-life applications

 * 1) The idea of volume is important for packing, shipping and cooking.
 * 2) Unit cubes can be used to efficiently store and package items. This is the main reason that boxes are generally rectangular prisms regardless of the items they carry.