Surface area of cuboids
I can appreciate the concept of surface area and find the surface area of cuboids.
Surface area of cuboids
I can appreciate the concept of surface area and find the surface area of cuboids.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The surface area of a 3D shape is the sum of the area of all the faces.
- The net of a cuboid can help find the surface area.
- The surface area of a cuboid can be found without drawing the net.
Keywords
Surface area - the total area of all the surfaces of a closed 3D shape. The surfaces include all faces and any curved surfaces.
Net - The net of a 3D object is a 2D representation of its surfaces that can be folded up into the 3D object.
Common misconception
Any arrangement of 6 square-faces will result in the net of a cube.
Some arrangements of 6 squares will result in some of them overlapping when the shape is folded into 3D, resulting in an incomplete cube.
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Surface area of cuboids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Surface area of cuboids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Perimeter, area and volume unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions






Exit quiz
6 Questions



a -
40 cm²
b -
10 cm²
c -
16 cm²


a -
2 cm
b -
11 cm
c -
5 cm
d -
174 cm²
total area of visible faces -
87 cm²
