Building Blocks of Math: Exploring Area and Perimeter with the Area Builder!
Lesson Description
Video Resource
Key Concepts
- Area
- Perimeter
- Unit Squares
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to define area and perimeter.
- Students will be able to use the Area Builder simulation to explore the relationship between area and perimeter.
- Students will be able to calculate the area and perimeter of shapes using unit squares.
- Students will be able to solve area and perimeter problems in the Area Builder game.
Educator Instructions
- Introduction (5 mins)
Begin by asking students what they already know about area and perimeter. Briefly discuss the definitions of area (the amount of space inside a shape) and perimeter (the distance around the outside of a shape). Introduce the Miacademy Learning Channel video 'Intro to Area Builder Simulation'. - Video Viewing (7 mins)
Play the 'Intro to Area Builder Simulation' video. Encourage students to pay attention to how the Area Builder works and how area and perimeter are calculated. - Explore Tab Activity (10 mins)
Have students access the Area Builder simulation (search 'Area Builder Miacademy'). Instruct them to start with the 'Explore' tab. Encourage them to experiment with different shapes and observe how the area and perimeter change. Turn the grid on (as Kayley suggests) to help count unit squares. Discuss the hint shared in the video about the effect of placing squares next to each other versus on top of each other. - Game Tab Activity (15 mins)
Move on to the 'Game' tab. Have students play levels 1-3 of the Gleek game. Encourage them to use the strategies discussed in the video (filling in missing squares to visualize a complete rectangle). Remind them to carefully count the squares and sides to calculate area and perimeter correctly. Have students help each other with strategies if they get stuck. - Wrap-up and Discussion (5 mins)
Review the key concepts of area and perimeter. Ask students what they learned from the Area Builder simulation. Discuss how the simulation helped them understand the relationship between area and perimeter.
Interactive Exercises
- Area and Perimeter Challenge
Provide students with graph paper. Challenge them to draw different shapes with a specific area (e.g., draw three shapes with an area of 12 square units). Then, have them calculate the perimeter of each shape. Discuss how different shapes can have the same area but different perimeters. - Real-World Area and Perimeter
Have students find rectangular objects in the classroom (desks, books, etc.). Measure the length and width of each object (using appropriate units). Calculate the area and perimeter of each object.
Discussion Questions
- What is the difference between area and perimeter?
- How does changing the shape of a figure affect its area and perimeter?
- Can two shapes have the same area but different perimeters? Can they have the same perimeter but different areas? Give examples.
- How can the Area Builder simulation help you solve real-world problems involving area and perimeter?
Skills Developed
- Problem-solving
- Spatial reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Measurement
- Calculation of Area and Perimeter
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1:
What is the area of a shape?
Correct Answer: The amount of space inside the shape.
Question 2:
What is the perimeter of a shape?
Correct Answer: The distance around the outside of the shape.
Question 3:
In the Area Builder, what do we use to measure area?
Correct Answer: Unit Squares
Question 4:
If a rectangle has a length of 5 squares and a width of 3 squares, what is its area?
Correct Answer: 15 squares
Question 5:
If a square has sides that are each 4 squares long, what is its perimeter?
Correct Answer: 16 squares
Question 6:
Which of these tools helps you find the area and perimeter in the Miacademy video?
Correct Answer: Area Builder
Question 7:
What happens to the perimeter when you add a square on top of another square?
Correct Answer: It stays the same.
Question 8:
In the Area Builder game, what is the Gleek game about?
Correct Answer: Finding the missing area.
Question 9:
What should you do first in the Area Builder game to find the area of an irregular shape?
Correct Answer: Fill in the missing squares
Question 10:
How can you find the area of a rectangle?
Correct Answer: Both B and C.
Fill in the Blank Questions
Question 1:
The amount of space inside a shape is called the _________.
Correct Answer: area
Question 2:
The distance around the outside of a shape is called the _________.
Correct Answer: perimeter
Question 3:
We use ________ _________ to measure area in the Area Builder.
Correct Answer: unit squares
Question 4:
If a rectangle is 4 squares long and 2 squares wide, it has an area of ________ squares.
Correct Answer: 8
Question 5:
If a square has sides that are 3 squares long, its perimeter is ________ squares.
Correct Answer: 12
Question 6:
The Miacademy video uses an ________ _________ to learn about area and perimeter.
Correct Answer: Area Builder
Question 7:
The Area Builder has an _________ tab and a game tab to help you learn.
Correct Answer: Explore
Question 8:
Area is measured in _________ and perimeter is measured in length.
Correct Answer: squares
Question 9:
We can _________ the number of squares to find the area.
Correct Answer: count
Question 10:
We can _________ the number of squares around a shape to find the perimeter.
Correct Answer: add
Educational Standards
Teaching Materials
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