Surface area of a pyramid

Investigating areas of surfaces in a pyramid is approached with this activity.

Objectives
Understand the solid figure - pyramid.

Explore properties of pyramids.

Estimated Time
30 minutes.

Prerequisites/Instructions, prior preparations, if any

 * 1) Knowledge about dimensions, plane figures and solid figures.
 * 2) The formulae to find the area of a square and triangles.
 * 3) They should know the properties of a pyramid.

Materials/ Resources needed
Digital: Laptop, geogebra file, projector and a pointer.

Geogebra file: Surfaces of a pyramid

Process (How to do the activity)

 * Process :
 * 1) The teacher can initially discuss about plane figures, solid figures and pyramids.
 * 2) Reiterate the properties of pyramid.
 * 3) Discuss about the types of pyramids based on its base.
 * 4) project the geogebra file, point to parts of pyramid.
 * 5) Moving slider, show them the open pyramid so that students can easily comprehend the surface area of it.
 * 6) Reiterate that surface area of pyramid would be the sum of area of its base + 4 times the area of its sides in case of a regular pyramid.
 * Developmental Questions
 * 1) What is a pyramid ?
 * 2) Name its parts.
 * 3) What are its properties ?
 * 4) What shape is its base ?
 * 5) How many vertices does it have ?
 * 6) What are the shapes of its sides.
 * 7) How many edges, faces does it have ?
 * 8) What is the formula to find the area of a square ?
 * 9) What is the formula to find the area of a triangle ?
 * 10) How do you get the perpendicular height of the triangle?
 * 11) Do you know any other formula to find the area of the triangle ?
 * 12) What would be the area of the pyramid ?
 * Evaluation:
 * 1) On what factors would the area of a pyramid depend ?
 * Question Corner:
 * 1) Can we have a generalised formula to find the surface area of all types of pyramids ? Discuss.