Soda cans are often packaged in rectangular arrays, but more efficient arrangements that require less packaging material are possible. In this lesson, students investigate various designs for packaging soda cans and use geometry to analyze their designs.

Soda cans are often packaged in rectangular arrays, but more efficient arrangements that require less packaging material are possible. In this lesson, students investigate various designs for packaging soda cans and use geometry to analyze their designs. An activity sheet, discussion questions, a lesson extension, and suggestions for assessment are included. (author/sw)

This lesson's practical question about how to efficiently pack soda cans challenges students to go beyond typical mathematics class thinking. The lesson builds on geometric topics that students can readily understand.

This lesson's practical question about how to efficiently pack soda cans challenges students to go beyond typical mathematics class thinking. The lesson builds on geometric topics that students can readily understand. The web site offers all the required materials, activity sheets, and teacher hints for a successful lesson. The lesson, appropriate in middle school and beyond, will be useful to mathematics teachers in both comprehensive and career-technical high schools. The lesson's real-world question about packing soda cans is a particularly appropriate and "fun" investigative activity for career-technical students in Engineering and Science, Manufacturing, and Marketing career fields. (jrs)