(Pump Up the) Volume

(requires Flash)

Lyrics

Chorus
Pump up the volume, pump up the classroom
Everybody’s sucking up skills like a vacuum
How big is the sun? How big is the moon?
Come on everybody let me here you pump up the volume
We’ve got three dimensions that we’re dealing with
Everybody feeling this? ‘Cause you know it’s not a myth
That we’re leaving flat shapes behind
Now we’ve got cubes and cones and cylinders on our mind full time

Verse I
When you’re measuring a cube you can’t measure it wrong
‘Cause every single little side of it is equally long
So to calculate the volume it’s pretty simple, you see?
Take any side of it and raise it to the power of three
A rectangular prism is just a little bit harder
We’re gonna stretch your knowledge of it just a little bit farther
First you wanna check the angles are right (90º)
And then you multiply the length times the width times the height

Chorus

Verse II
Next is the cylinder, but don’t be scared
It’s just the height times π times the radius squared
For the Volume of a cone, division is key
You take the height times πr² but then divide it by 3
Last but not least we’ll examine a sphere
Like the sun or the moon or the bubbles in your root beer
After our research, we must conclude
That it’s 4∕3 × πr³

Chorus

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Description

This song teaches the volume formulas for geometric figures. It recites the specific formulas for the volume of a cube, cone, cylinder, sphere, and rectangular prism with rhymes that are easy to remember. The teaching materials at the bottom of the page, including lesson plans, worksheets, activities and games are additional resources to help teachers and homeschool parents generate teaching ideas for the song topic. Students will have a greater understanding of how to calculate the volume of geometric figures.

This math song is suitable to help teach the formulas for volume to elementary school students (4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade), middle school, high school, home school, and college classes.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

Math.com
History of Pi
This page tells the history of Pi, what it is, and a description of how it is used. There is a lot of interesting information and a cool experiment called Buffoon’s Needle that students will enjoy. A great site with lots of additional information on math topics.
Grades 5-8

Volume Formulas
This page provides illustrations and the formulas to find the volumes of several different shapes. Good explanations of similarities and differences.
Grades 5-8

Math Open Reference
Volume of a Cube
This site explains how to find the volume of a cube. Requires a plug in for the visual reference, but has a very good written explanation that would be useful.
Grade 6-8

Volume of a Cylinder
This site explains how to find the volume of a cylinder. Requires a plug in for the visual reference, but has a very good written explanation that would be useful.
Grade 6-8

Math is Fun
Cuboids
This site is a gem for simple clear explanations of cubes, rectangular prisms and cuboids. Excellent illustrations as well.
Grades 3-8

Lesson Plans & Activities

ABCTeach
Volumes and Areas (PDF)
This worksheet has formulas for finding the volume, area and surface area of various shapes. Simple, easy to understand and hard copies can be made and distributed to students easily.
Grades 4-8

Math Forum.org
Surface area of Sphere
This activity has students compare the area of a sphere with a rectangle by using wrapping paper to illustrate the difference. Good visual. Fairly easy.
Grade 6-7

Area and Volume
This activity has students making squares and cubes of various sizes to illustrate important differences. A good classroom activity. Not too difficult
Grades 4-8

Education World
Investigating Volume
In this hands-on lesson, students “discover” the concept of volume. They will learn the concept by using math manipulatives to measure volume. Useful if you have manipulatives already in place that are 1-inch cubes, rectangles, etc.
Grades 3-8

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

7th Grade
Measurement and Geometry: 1.3 - Know/use formulas for volume of triangular prisms/cylinders (area of base × height); compare formulas and explain similarity between them and formula for volume of rectangular solid.

Florida

7th Grade
MA.7.G.4.1 - Determine how changes in dimensions affect perimeter/area/ volume of common geometric figures. Apply relationships to solve problems.

Illinois

3rd Grade
7.A.1a - Measure length, volume and weight/mass using rulers, scales and other appropriate measuring instruments in the customary and metric systems.

4th–6th Grades
7.A.2a - Calculate, compare and convert length, perimeter, area, weight/mass and volume within the customary and metric systems.

7th-8th Grades
7.A.3b - Apply the concepts and attributes of length, capacity, weight/mass, perimeter, area, volume, time, temperature and angle measures in practical situations.
7.C.3b - Use concrete and graphic models and appropriate formulas to find perimeters, areas, surface areas and volumes of two- and three-dimensional regions.

9th-10th Grades
7.A.4b - Apply formulas in a wide variety of theoretical and practical real-world measurement applications involving perimeter, area, volume, angle, time, temperature, mass, speed, distance, density and monetary values.

Massachusetts

6th Grade
6.G.2 - Identify three-dimensional shapes (cubes/prisms/spheres/cones/pyramids) based on properties, i.e.: edges/ faces.

New York

7th Grade
7.G.2 - Calculate volume of prisms/cylinders, using given formula and calculator.

Texas

7th Grade
7.9.C - Estimate measurements/solve application problems involving volume of prisms/cylinders.

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Preview Worksheets