Area

Lesson 1

Math

Unit 4

3rd Grade

Lesson 1 of 14

Objective


Understand that area is an attribute of plane figures that is a measure of how much flat space an object takes up. Find the area of a figure using pattern blocks, which can be used as concrete non-standard units.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

  • 3.MD.C.5 — Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement.
  • 3.MD.C.6 — Measure areas by counting unit squares (square cm, square m, square in, square ft, and improvised units).

Foundational Standards

  • 1.G.A.2

Criteria for Success


  1. Understand that area is the measure of how much flat space an object takes up. 
  2. Compare the areas of various figures that have some common dimension or property. 
  3. Find the area of various figures by covering a space with concrete non-standard units without gaps or overlaps (MP.5, MP.6). 
  4. Find the area of a figure multiple times, using units of different sizes for the different measurements. 
  5. Explain how multiple measurements of the same figure is related to the size of the unit chosen (MP.3).

Tips for Teachers


Lesson Materials

  • pattern blocks (at least 12 triangles, 6 blue (fatter) rhombuses, 4 squares, 3 trapezoids, 2 hexagons per student or small group) — Students will also need these for the Homework
  • Template: Pattern Block Areas (1 per student or small group)
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Anchor Tasks


Problem 1

Which shape takes up more space, the trapezoid pattern block or the blue rhombus pattern block? Justify your answer.

Guiding Questions

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Problem 2

Area is the measure of how much flat space an object takes up.

Use pattern blocks to decide which shape on Template: Pattern Block Areas has the greatest area. Be ready to explain your reasoning. 

Guiding Questions

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References

Illustrative Mathematics Grade 3 Unit 2 Lesson 1 Activity 2

Grade 3 Unit 2 Lesson 1 Activity 2, accessed on Oct. 12, 2022, 11:01 a.m., is licensed by Illustrative Mathematics under either the CC BY 4.0 or CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. For further information, contact Illustrative Mathematics.

Modified by Fishtank Learning, Inc.

Problem Set


Answer Keys

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Discussion of Problem Set

  • How many triangle pattern blocks does it take to cover a rhombus pattern block? Use that information to say a division fact that relates the number of triangles it takes to cover Shape A to the number of rhombuses it takes to cover the same shape. ($$6\div 2 = 3$$
  • What new math vocabulary did we use today to communicate precisely about the amount of space taken up by a shape? 

Target Task


Use triangle pattern blocks to find the area of the shape below.

Area: _____ triangle units

Student Response

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Additional Practice


The Extra Practice Problems can be used as additional practice for homework, during an intervention block, etc. Daily Word Problems and Fluency Activities are aligned to the content of the unit but not necessarily to the lesson objective, therefore feel free to use them anytime during your school day.

Extra Practice Problems

Answer Keys

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Word Problems and Fluency Activities

Word Problems and Fluency Activities

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Lesson 2

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Understanding Concepts of Area

Topic B: The Distributive Property and Composite Area

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