Area - Making Shapes - Presentation

In a series of engaging activities tailored for young learners, the focus is on understanding the concept of area through the exploration of rectilinear shapes. The lesson introduces the counting squares strategy, an intuitive method for calculating area. Students begin by discussing the properties of rectilinear shapes, which sets the foundation for the day's learning objectives. The first activity encourages creativity and systematic thinking as students are tasked with using a set number of squares to construct various rectilinear shapes. This hands-on approach not only reinforces the properties of these shapes but also allows students to visualize and comprehend the concept of area in a practical context.

Subsequent activities delve deeper into spatial reasoning and application. Students use squared paper to draw rectilinear shapes with a specified area, challenging them to consider different configurations that meet the same area criteria. This is further expanded upon as they compare their designs with a partner, prompting discussions about similarities and differences. The lesson also incorporates real-life scenarios, such as designing a bathroom with a given number of tiles, to demonstrate the relevance of area in everyday contexts. Additionally, reasoning tasks encourage students to manipulate shapes to form rectangles and explore symmetry and area within the shapes of capital letters. The lesson concludes with independent work, where students apply their knowledge to create shapes with a given number of squares and calculate areas, fostering both independent learning and collaborative discussion.