Discovering Area: Measuring the Space Inside Shapes!

Mathematics Grades 4th Grade 8:58 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Learn about area and how to measure the space inside squares, rectangles, and irregular shapes using square units and multiplication!

Video Resource

Area for Kids

Homeschool Pop

Duration: 8:58
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Area as the space inside a shape
  • Square units as a measurement tool for area
  • Calculating area of rectangles and squares using multiplication (length x width)
  • Area is always squared (e.g., square feet, square centimeters)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define area and differentiate it from perimeter.
  • Students will be able to measure the area of shapes using square units.
  • Students will be able to calculate the area of rectangles and squares using the formula: Area = Length x Width.
  • Students will be able to express area measurements in square units.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by reviewing the concept of perimeter (the distance around a shape). Then, introduce the concept of area as the space *inside* a shape. Emphasize the difference between area and perimeter using visual aids.
  • Measuring Area with Square Units (10 mins)
    Present various shapes (squares, rectangles, irregular shapes) and demonstrate how to measure their area by counting square units. Guide students through examples, encouraging them to count the square units themselves. Reinforce the idea that the area is the total number of square units inside the shape.
  • Calculating Area with Multiplication (15 mins)
    Introduce the formula for calculating the area of rectangles and squares: Area = Length x Width. Explain why multiplication works for finding area (it's a shortcut to counting all the square units). Work through several examples, showing how to multiply the length and width to find the area. Stress the importance of including square units in the answer (e.g., square feet, square centimeters).
  • Real-World Application (5 mins)
    Discuss real-world examples where understanding area is important (e.g., calculating the size of a room, determining how much carpet is needed, figuring out how much space a garden will take up). Show the clip from the end of the video of using area to determine boxes in a warehouse. Ask students to brainstorm other examples.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts: area, square units, and the formula Area = Length x Width. Remind students that the answer to area problems is always squared.

Interactive Exercises

  • Area Scavenger Hunt
    Have students measure the length and width of various rectangular objects in the classroom (desks, books, etc.) and calculate their area. Students share their findings with the class.
  • Shape Up!
    Provide students with graph paper and have them draw various rectangles and squares. Students then calculate the area of each shape they drew.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the difference between area and perimeter?
  • Why do we use square units to measure area?
  • How does multiplication help us find the area of rectangles and squares quickly?
  • Can you think of a time when you needed to know the area of something?

Skills Developed

  • Measurement
  • Multiplication
  • Problem-solving
  • Spatial reasoning

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does area measure?

Correct Answer: The space inside a shape

Question 2:

What units do we use to measure area?

Correct Answer: Square units

Question 3:

What is the formula for finding the area of a rectangle?

Correct Answer: Length x Width

Question 4:

A rectangle is 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. What is its area?

Correct Answer: 15 square feet

Question 5:

What does the small '2' in 'cm²' or 'feet²' mean?

Correct Answer: Squared

Question 6:

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

Correct Answer: 16 square cm

Question 7:

Area is the _______ inside a shape.

Correct Answer: space

Question 8:

If a rectangle is 7 meters long and 2 meters wide, what is its area?

Correct Answer: 14 square meters

Question 9:

Which of these is an example of a square unit?

Correct Answer: square feet

Question 10:

What do we need to know to find the area of a rectangle?

Correct Answer: Its length and width

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 using ______ units.

Correct Answer: square

Question 3:

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

Correct Answer: length

Question 4:

To find the area of a rectangle, we multiply the length by the ______.

Correct Answer: width

Question 5:

If a square is 3 cm long, its area is 3 x 3 = ______ square cm.

Correct Answer: 9

Question 6:

A rectangle with a length of 8 feet and a width of 2 feet has an area of ______ square feet.

Correct Answer: 16

Question 7:

Area is always measured in ______ units.

Correct Answer: squared

Question 8:

Perimeter is the distance ______ a shape, while area is the space ______ a shape.

Correct Answer: around

Question 9:

Perimeter is the distance around a shape, while area is the space ______ a shape.

Correct Answer: inside

Question 10:

The area of a shape tells us how much ______ is inside.

Correct Answer: space

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. 4.GM.2:Recognize and measure attributes in real-world and mathematical situations using various tools.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans