What's My Area?

Karen L. Mickel                William Carter Elementary School
                               5740 S. Michigan Avenue 
                               Chicago IL 60637
                               (312) 535-0860 
 
Objectives:

     To cover an area with uniform tiles and count the number of tiles needed.
     To recognize rectangles, triangles and squares.
     To review basic colors.
     
Materials needed:

     One inch multi-color square tiles    
     Rectangular tiles       
     Triangular tiles 
     Worksheet with different-sized shapes

Strategy:     

     Each student will be given some square tiles.  The students will find a 
space on the floor to play with their tiles.  After the children have played 
with the tiles, tell them it is time to learn about area.  Distribute papers 
with different-sized shapes.  Tell children to cover the shapes completely with 
their tiles.  After the shapes are covered, ask how many tiles did it take to 
cover the shapes.  Repeat the procedure with rectangular and triangular tiles.

     After the first concept has been taught you may introduce a new way of 
finding area.  You may give the students different square patterns.  Some 
patterns may require the students to use rectangular and triangular shapes.  

     As a follow-up activity, the students can make up their own worksheet with 
different-sized shapes.  They would trade worksheets with one of their group 
members.  The group member would use square tile, rectangular tiles and
triangular tiles to cover the shapes on the worksheet.
   
     Repeat this lesson until concept is mastered.