Unlocking Area: Counting Squares and Multiplying Sides!

Mathematics Grades 4th Grade 5:20 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to find the area of rectangles by counting unit squares and discover the shortcut of multiplying the side lengths!

Video Resource

Rectangle area as product of dimensions same as counting unit squares | Pre-Algebra | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 5:20
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Area as the amount of space inside a shape.
  • Unit squares as a way to measure area.
  • The relationship between counting unit squares and multiplying side lengths to find area.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define area and explain it in terms of square units.
  • Students will be able to find the area of a rectangle by counting unit squares.
  • Students will be able to find the area of a rectangle by multiplying its length and width.
  • Students will be able to explain why multiplying length and width gives the same result as counting unit squares.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about area. Discuss the concept of 'space inside' and how we measure it. Introduce the idea of using squares as a way to measure area, like using tiles to cover a floor.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video "Rectangle area as product of dimensions same as counting unit squares | Pre-Algebra | Khan Academy". Instruct students to pay attention to how the video explains finding area by both counting squares and multiplying sides.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, draw a rectangle on the board. Guide students through finding the area in two ways: first, by drawing unit squares inside and counting them, and second, by measuring the length and width and multiplying. Repeat with a few more rectangles of different sizes.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet containing several rectangles with labeled side lengths. Have them find the area of each rectangle using the multiplication method. They can draw unit squares if they need to visualize it.
  • Wrap-up and Discussion (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts and answer any remaining questions. Emphasize that multiplying length and width is a shortcut for counting all the unit squares.

Interactive Exercises

  • Building Rectangles
    Provide students with small square tiles (e.g., one-inch squares). Have them build rectangles with specific areas (e.g., 'Build a rectangle with an area of 12 square inches'). They can then determine the length and width of their rectangle.
  • Area Scavenger Hunt
    Have students find rectangular objects in the classroom (e.g., books, desks, posters). They estimate or measure the length and width of each object and calculate its area.

Discussion Questions

  • What does 'area' mean in your own words?
  • Why do we use square units to measure area?
  • How is multiplying the length and width of a rectangle like counting squares?
  • Can you think of real-world examples where you might need to find the area of something?

Skills Developed

  • Multiplication
  • Spatial reasoning
  • Problem-solving
  • Measurement

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does area measure?

Correct Answer: The space inside a shape.

Question 2:

What is a unit square?

Correct Answer: A square with a length and width of 1.

Question 3:

A rectangle has a length of 5 meters and a width of 3 meters. What is its area?

Correct Answer: 15 square meters

Question 4:

Which of these shows how to find the area of a rectangle?

Correct Answer: Multiply the length and width.

Question 5:

A square has sides that are each 4 inches long. What is the area of the square?

Correct Answer: 16 square inches

Question 6:

If a rectangle has an area of 20 square feet and a width of 4 feet, what is the length?

Correct Answer: 5 feet

Question 7:

Which unit would you use to measure the area of a rug?

Correct Answer: Square Feet

Question 8:

What is the area of a rectangle that is 7 inches long and 2 inches wide?

Correct Answer: 14 square inches

Question 9:

If you count 24 unit squares inside a rectangle, what is the area of the rectangle?

Correct Answer: 24 square units

Question 10:

A classroom floor is 10 feet long and 8 feet wide. What is the area of the classroom floor?

Correct Answer: 80 square feet

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The amount of space inside a shape is called its ________.

Correct Answer: area

Question 2:

We measure area in ________ units.

Correct Answer: square

Question 3:

To find the area of a rectangle, we multiply the ________ by the width.

Correct Answer: length

Question 4:

A square meter is a square that is one ________ long and one meter wide.

Correct Answer: meter

Question 5:

If a rectangle is 6 cm long and 3 cm wide, its area is ________ square cm.

Correct Answer: 18

Question 6:

The area of a rectangle is the same as the number of ________ squares that fit inside it.

Correct Answer: unit

Question 7:

If you have a rectangle with a length of 8 inches and a width of 2 inches, the area is ________ square inches.

Correct Answer: 16

Question 8:

A shape with four equal sides is called a ________.

Correct Answer: square

Question 9:

Area is always measured in ________ units.

Correct Answer: square

Question 10:

If a garden is 9 feet long and 5 feet wide, its area is ________ square feet.

Correct Answer: 45

Educational Standards

4.GM.2.2:Find the area of polygons by determining if they can be decomposed into rectangles. 4.N.2.1:Demonstrate fluency with multiplication and division facts with factors up to 12.

Teaching Materials

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