Investigation Organizer: Grade 5, Chapter 13

Math Central
Grade 5, Chapter 13 Investigation Organizer:

Packaging Inventions

Summary: The tea bag is possibly one of the world's most creative packaging ideas. It was invented in 1904 by Thomas Sullivan, a New York businessman. He put samples of tea in small silk bags and sent them to customers. His customers found the tea bags easier to use than loose tea.

Your group will create a way to package items of an unusual shape. Decide what package design will be best for shipping and selling your items. The design must contain items made by using the pattern on page 461 of the Math Central textbook. Work together to complete the project.

1. Plan It

Copy the pattern.

Trace the item pattern on page 461 of the Math Central textbook onto a piece of tracing paper. Lay the tracing paper on a piece of poster board.

Trace the lines, pressing down hard so the outline of the pattern can be seen on the poster board. The cut out the pattern from the sheet of poster board.

$[Checkbox]$ Item pattern traced and cut

2. Put It Together

Build pyramids.

Use the poster board pattern as a template to make 30 square pyramids of a special kind. Draw around the edge of your template on construction paper to make 30 pyramid patterns. Mark the fold lines before cutting them out.

Fold the pyramids on the dotted lines and tape the sides together.

The pyramids will be sold in packages of three. Find a way to put together three of these special pyramid items for shipping.

$[Checkbox]$ Our pyramids assembled and package arrangement planned

3. Wrap It Up

Prepare your shipment. Find the volume and area of one package of three pyramids. Find the size of the container you need to ship ten packages without space left over. Make the container out of poster board.

Write a paragraph explaining why your packaging idea is a good one.

$[Checkbox]$ Package volume and area and container dimensions calculated

4. Discuss Your Results

Are your volume and area formulas accurate?

How clearly can you explain your three-pyramid packaging arrangement?

Does your container make the best use of space?

How well did your group work together to complete the activity?

How would you present your packaging idea to a company selling the product?

$[Checkbox]$ Review completed

Return to Investigation Page.

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Math Central Grade 5, Chapter 13 Investigation Organizer:

Packaging Inventions

Math Central
Grade 5, Chapter 13 Investigation Organizer: