Cube to Rectangular Prism

This cube can be used in a classroom to demonstrate to students the differences between cubes and rectangular prisms.

The first part of the program makes a solid cube. The second part of the program was repeated with the line function (rather than the face function) to draw a copy of the cube next to the original cube.

; cube and rectangular prism
CS
; part 1
FACE
PD
UP 1
WEST 1
DN 1
EAST 1
FD 1
UP 1
WEST 1
DN 1
EAST 1
UP 1
BK 1
WEST 1
FD 1
DN 1
BK 1
PU
; part 2
LINE
PD
UP 1
WEST 1
DN 1
EAST 1
FD 1
UP 1
WEST 1
DN 1
EAST 1
UP 1
BK 1
WEST 1
FD 1
DN 1
BK 1

Through the use of this virtual world, students are able to discuss the properties of a cube and also the properties of a rectangular prism.

Students can conclude that:

Cube

• Has 6 equal faces of the same length
• Has 8 verticies
• Has 12 edges

Rectangular Prism

• Has 6 faces, only some of the sides are the same length
• Has 8 verticies
• Has 12 edges

This program provides the students an opportunity to compare and discuss the relationships between a cube and rectangular prism. Students can also have discussions about how to make a rectangular prism and the difference between a solid shape and a net..

*Follow up activities

• Students can create physical rectangular prisms using unifix cubes to check their original assumptions of a rectangular prism.
• Students can attempt drawing the net of a rectangular prism.
• Students can use the information about the relationship between a cube and a rectangular prism to the relationship between a square and a rectangle.