National curriculum content

• Calculate and compare the area of rectangles (including squares), and including using standard units, square centimetres (cm²) and square metres (m²) and estimate the area of irregular shapes

Lesson objectives

1. What is area?
2. Counting squares
3. Making shapes
4. Comparing area

What we want children to know

• How to measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm)
• How to measure the perimeter of simple 2-D shapes, to measure using the appropriate tools and units, progressing to using a wider range of measures, including comparing and using mixed units

What skills we want children to develop

Use knowledge to solve reasoning and problem solving questions such as:

Testing conditions:

Two children have measured the top of their desk. They used different sized squares.
Dora says, “The area of the table top is 6 squares.”

Alex says, “The area of the table top is 9 squares.”

Who used the largest squares? How do you know?

Making comparisons by drawing shapes:
Use squared paper to draw 4 different rectilinear shapes with an area of 12 squares. Compare your shapes to a partner. Are they the same? Are they different?

Mathematical Talk

• What strategy can you use to ensure you don’t count a square twice?
• Why are shapes with perpendicular sides more effective to find the area of rectilinear shapes?