Calculate and compare the area of rectangles worksheet

Activity 1 on the worksheet invites children to engage with squared paper to explore the concept of area in rectilinear shapes. The task requires them to draw various rectilinear shapes, each with an identical area, such as 10 squares. This creative exercise not only reinforces their understanding of area but also allows them to appreciate the different configurations that can have the same area. The activity can be varied by changing the specified area, thus challenging the students to think flexibly about shape and space.

Activity 2 shifts the focus to hands-on measurement and comparison. Children are provided with a selection of rectilinear shapes and rulers, and each child receives two shapes to work with. They are tasked with calculating the area of each shape by taking accurate measurements. Once the areas are determined, the children compare the two shapes to identify which one has the smaller area. This activity can be extended by incorporating more shapes and instructing the children to order them by area size, either in ascending or descending order. In Activity 3, pairs of students use squared paper to delve into the relationship between area and perimeter, investigating whether rectangles with the same area necessarily have the same perimeter, with an option to extend the investigation to other rectilinear shapes. Lastly, Activity 4 introduces a playful element with the use of dice. Children roll two dice, multiply the numbers to determine the area, and then draw various rectilinear shapes that match the calculated area on squared paper. This activity consolidates their ability to calculate and compare areas, using standard units such as square centimetres (cm²) and square metres (m²), as well as estimating the area of irregular shapes.