Volume Layer Lab Scoot Activity
Volume Layer Lab Scoot!
Station Movement Recording Sheet • Formula: \(V = B \times h\)
Name: __________________________
Date: ____________ Class: _________
Base Area (\(B\)) × Height (\(h\)) = Volume (\(V\))
Core Strategy: Count or calculate the Base Layer cubes (\(B\)), then multiply by the number of vertical layers (\(h\)).
Target: 12 / 12
Station 1 #01
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 2 #02
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 3 #03
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 4 #04
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 5 #05
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 6 #06
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 7 Mystery!
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Given Volume:
Missing \(h\):
Station 8 #08
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 9 #09
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 10 Mystery!
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Given Volume:
Missing \(B\):
Station 11 #11
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Station 12 Challenge!
Base Area (\(B\)):
Height (\(h\)):
Equation:
Volume:
Self-Reflection: I can find \(B\) and \(h\) I need more practice
Final Score: _____ / 12
Station Cards Set A (Cut along dashed lines • Place at desks or walls) Stations 1 – 4
1 The Layer Cake
Count Unit Cubes
Base Layer (B) 4 × 3 = 12 cubes h = 3 layers
Find Total Volume: Formula: \(V = B \times h\)
1. The highlighted blue base has 12 unit cubes.
2. The prism is stacked 3 layers high.
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #1.
2 Floor Tile Tower
Base Area Given
B = 15 cm² h = 4 cm (4 layers)
Calculate Volume: Units: \(\text{cm}^3\)
Base Area (\(B\)) = \(15\text{ cm}^2\)
Height (\(h\)) = \(4\text{ cm}\)
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #2.
3 Tall Skyscraper
Count Unit Cubes
Base (B) 2 × 2 = 4 cubes h = 6 layers
Find Total Volume: Units: \(\text{units}^3\)
1. Base layer has 4 unit cubes (\(2 \times 2\)).
2. The tower has 6 vertical layers.
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #3.
4 Cargo Container
Real World
Base (B) = 24 m² h = 5 m (5 shelf levels)
Calculate Volume: Units: \(\text{m}^3\)
The floor of a cargo container has \(B = 24\text{ m}^2\).
It is stacked with boxes \(5\text{ m}\) high.
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #4.
Volume Layer Lab Scoot • Station Cards 1 – 4 • Grade 5 Math (5.MD.C.5b)
Station Cards Set B (Cut along dashed lines • Place at desks or walls) Stations 5 – 8
5 Grid Dissection
Flat Base + Stack
Base Layer: 5 × 2 = 10 cubes h = 4
Find Total Volume: Formula: \(V = B \times h\)
Base layer has \(10\text{ unit cubes}\) (\(5 \times 2\)).
It is stacked \(4\text{ layers high}\).
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #5.
6 Jewelry Box
Base Area Given
Base (B) = 36 in² h = 3 in
Calculate Volume: Units: \(\text{in}^3\)
Base Area (\(B\)) = \(36\text{ in}^2\)
Height (\(h\)) = \(3\text{ in}\)
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #6.
7 Mystery Height!
Find Height \(h\)
Total V = 40 cm³ B = 8 cm² h = ?
Inverse Thinking: \(h = V \div B\)
Total Volume (\(V\)) = \(40\text{ cm}^3\)
Base Area (\(B\)) = \(8\text{ cm}^2\). How many layers high (\(h\)) is it?
Record \(B\), mystery \(h\), equation, and given \(V\) on Sheet #7.
8 Cereal Box
Real World
CRUNCH OATS B = 18 cm² h = 8 cm
Calculate Volume: Units: \(\text{cm}^3\)
Base of the cereal box has \(B = 18\text{ cm}^2\).
The box stands \(8\text{ cm}\) tall.
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #8.
Volume Layer Lab Scoot • Station Cards 5 – 8 • Grade 5 Math (5.MD.C.5b)
Station Cards Set C (Cut along dashed lines • Place at desks or walls) Stations 9 – 12
9 The Cube Matrix
Count Unit Cubes
Base (B) 4 × 3 = 12 h = 5 layers
Find Total Volume: Units: \(\text{units}^3\)
1. Base layer has \(12\text{ unit cubes}\) (\(4 \times 3\)).
2. The prism has \(5\text{ vertical layers}\).
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #9.
10 Mystery Base!
Find Base \(B\)
Total V = 48 ft³ Base B = ? h = 6 ft
Inverse Thinking: \(B = V \div h\)
Total Volume (\(V\)) = \(48\text{ ft}^3\)
Height (\(h\)) = \(6\text{ ft}\). What is the Base Area (\(B\))?
Record mystery \(B\), \(h\), equation, and given \(V\) on Sheet #10.
11 The Giant Cube
Count Unit Cubes
Base (B) 4 × 4 = 16 h = 4 layers
Find Total Volume: Units: \(\text{units}^3\)
1. Base layer has \(16\text{ unit cubes}\) (\(4 \times 4\)).
2. The cube is stacked \(4\text{ layers high}\).
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #11.
12 Class Aquarium
Challenge
3 ft 7 ft Base B = 7 × 3 = 21 ft² h = 4 ft
Calculate Water Volume: Units: \(\text{ft}^3\)
The tank base is \(7\text{ ft} \times 3\text{ ft}\) (\(B = 21\text{ ft}^2\)).
It is filled to a height of \(4\text{ ft}\).
Record \(B\), \(h\), equation, and \(V\) on your Recording Sheet #12.
Volume Layer Lab Scoot • Station Cards 9 – 12 • Grade 5 Math (5.MD.C.5b)
Teacher Facilitator Guide & Key
Volume Layer Lab Scoot • Pacing, Rules & Master Answer Key
Standard: 5.MD.C.5b
1. Setup & Pacing
Cut pages 2–4 into 12 separate station cards. Tape cards around classroom walls or desks. Set a 60–90 second timer per station before calling "SCOOT!"
2. Visual Layer Model
Emphasize that the blue base layer (\(B\)) represents the bottom floor of cubes. The height (\(h\)) is the number of repeated identical layers.
3. Differentiation
Stations 7 & 10 feature inverse thinking (\(V \div B = h\) and \(V \div h = B\)). Encourage struggling students to use connecting unit blocks if needed.
Complete Master Answer Key Formula: \(V = B \times h\)
| Card # | Station Name & Type | Base Area (\(B\)) | Height (\(h\)) | Equation | Total Volume (\(V\)) |
|---|
| 1 | The Layer Cake (Unit Cubes) | \(12\text{ units}^2\) | \(3\text{ units}\) | \(12 \times 3\) | \(36\text{ units}^3\) |
| 2 | Floor Tile Tower (Base Given) | \(15\text{ cm}^2\) | \(4\text{ cm}\) | \(15 \times 4\) | \(60\text{ cm}^3\) |
| 3 | Tall Skyscraper (Unit Cubes) | \(4\text{ units}^2\) | \(6\text{ units}\) | \(4 \times 6\) | \(24\text{ units}^3\) |
| 4 | Cargo Container (Real World) | \(24\text{ m}^2\) | \(5\text{ m}\) | \(24 \times 5\) | \(120\text{ m}^3\) |
| 5 | Grid Dissection (2D Grid + Stack) | \(10\text{ units}^2\) | \(4\text{ units}\) | \(10 \times 4\) | \(40\text{ units}^3\) |
| 6 | Jewelry Box (Base Given) | \(36\text{ in}^2\) | \(3\text{ in}\) | \(36 \times 3\) | \(108\text{ in}^3\) |
| 7 | Mystery Height (Inverse) | \(8\text{ cm}^2\) | \(5\text{ cm}\) | \(40 \div 8 = 5\) | \(40\text{ cm}^3\) (Given) |
| 8 | Cereal Box (Real World) | \(18\text{ cm}^2\) | \(8\text{ cm}\) | \(18 \times 8\) | \(144\text{ cm}^3\) |
| 9 | The Cube Matrix (Unit Cubes) | \(12\text{ units}^2\) | \(5\text{ units}\) | \(12 \times 5\) | \(60\text{ units}^3\) |
| 10 | Mystery Base (Inverse) | \(8\text{ ft}^2\) | \(6\text{ ft}\) | \(48 \div 6 = 8\) | \(48\text{ ft}^3\) (Given) |
| 11 | The Giant Cube (4x4x4) | \(16\text{ units}^2\) | \(4\text{ units}\) | \(16 \times 4\) | \(64\text{ units}^3\) |
| 12 | Class Aquarium (Challenge) | \(21\text{ ft}^2\) | \(4\text{ ft}\) | \(21 \times 4\) | \(84\text{ ft}^3\) |
Whole-Class Debrief & Discussion Prompts
- Connecting Formulas: How is \(V = B \times h\) identical to \(V = l \times w \times h\)? (Base \(B\) is simply the length \(\times\) width area).
- Layer Visualization: If a box has a base area of \(12\text{ cm}^2\) and you add \(1\) more layer, how much does the volume increase? (It increases by exactly \(12\text{ cm}^3\)).
- Inverse Strategy: In Station 7, how did you use division or missing-factor multiplication to solve for height?
