Session 30: Area - square, rectangle

Introduction activity(20 minutes)  

1. Quick Review of Perimeter 

Write on the board:

Perimeter = the total distance around the outside of a shape.

Say:

“If I walk all the way around the edge of a soccer field, what am I measuring?”

Let students respond:

“The perimeter!”

Next example:

“Imagine you’re putting a fence around your garden. You need to know how much fencing to buy. That’s the perimeter—the total length around it.”

Draw a rectangle on the board to represent a garden

Label: Length = 6 meters, Width = 4 meters

Ask:

“How much fencing would I need to go all the way around?”

Guide them: 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 20 meters

2. Transition to Area  

Ask:

“What do we mean when we talk about the area of a shape?”

(Wait for responses. Guide as needed.)

Then explain:

“Area is the amount of surface inside the shape. It tells us how much space we’re covering.”

Real-life example:

“If I want to put carpet on the floor of a room, I’m not just measuring around it—I need to know how much space the carpet needs to cover. That’s the area.”

Use the same rectangle drawing:

Say:

“This could be the shape of a room. If I wanted to put tiles or carpet in here, I’d need to know how much flooring material to buy. That’s the area!”

•  Engage: Ask students, “How can we measure how much space a shape takes up on a surface?”
•  Introduce the word "Area" and explain that it is the amount of space inside a shape.
•  Show a square and a rectangle on the board and ask students how they are different and similar.

Define:

• Square: A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles.
• Rectangle: A shape with opposite sides equal and 4 right angles.
• Rectangle: Area = length × width
• Square: Area = side × side

 Main Activity (65 minutes)

Word Problems: Area of Squares and Rectangles (20 minutes) 

1. Rectangle – Carpet a Room:

You are carpeting a rectangular bedroom that is 5 meters long and 4 meters wide. How much carpet do you need to cover the floor?

Shape: Rectangle

Formula: Area = length × width

Solution: 5 × 4 = 20 square meters

2. Rectangle – Tiling a Kitchen:

A rectangular kitchen floor is 6 meters long and 3 meters wide. How many square meters of tiles will cover the floor completely?

Shape: Rectangle

Formula: Area = length × width

Solution: 6 × 3 = 18 square meters

3. Square – Small Rug:

You are placing a square rug in your reading corner. Each side of the rug is 2 meters long. What is the area of the rug?

Shape: Square

Formula: Area = side × side

Solution: 2 × 2 = 4 square meters

 4. Square – Garden Plot:

A square garden has sides that are 7 meters long. How much area will you cover if you plant flowers in the whole space?

Shape: Square

Formula: Area = side × side

Solution: 7 × 7 = 49 square meters

Team-Based Area Drawing Game (25 minutes)

Objective:

Each team will draw a layout of a real-life space (garden, bedroom, or classroom) using only squares and rectangles, then calculate the area of each object they include.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Divide the Class:

Team 1: Garden Designers

Team 2: Bedroom Planners

Team 3: Classroom Arrangers

 Team Tasks: Each team must:

• Design a top-down view of their space
• Include at least 5 real items (all squares or rectangles)
• Label each item with length, width, and area
• Add a title and decorate the drawing

Team Topics and Ideas:

Team 1 – Garden

• Vegetable bed (2m × 1.5m)
• Flower patch (1m × 1m)
• Pathway (0.5m × 4m)
• Grass area (3m × 2m)
• Bench (1.2m × 0.5m)

Team 2 – Bedroom

• Bed (2m × 1.5m)
• Rug (1.5m × 1m)
• Desk (1m × 0.5m)
• Bookshelf (1.2m × 0.6m)
• Window (1m × 1m)

Team 3 – Classroom

• Teacher’s desk (1.5m × 0.8m)
• Student desk (1m × 0.5m)
• Whiteboard (2m × 1m)
• Bookshelf (1m × 0.5m)
• Carpet area (2m × 3m)

Wrap-Up:

• Have each team present their layout, explain their measurements, and compare total areas. You can even give awards for:
• Most creative layout
• Most accurate math
• Best teamwork

Review Questions(5 minutes)

• How are the formulas for squares and rectangles similar or different?
• Can you explain what 'area' means in your own words

Follow Up Task(20 minutes)

Activity: Measuring Areas in the Classroom  

Instructions:

• Form small groups (2–3 students each).
• Assign or let students choose 3–5 objects in the classroom that are square or rectangular in shape.

Examples of objects:

• Book cover
• Student desk
• Window 
• Student desk
• Whiteboard
• Door

3. Measure:

Measure the length and breadth (for rectangles) or the side (for squares) of each object using a ruler or tape measure.

Record the measurements.

4. Calculate:

Use the correct formula:

Square: Area = Side × Side

Rectangle: Area = Length × Breadth

Work out the area for each item.

5. Record Findings:

Fill a table like this:

6. Discuss:

Which object had the largest area?

Which object had the smallest area?

Why is measuring area important in real life?

Expected learning outcome 

Knowledge building

• Understand the meaning of area.
• Measure length and breadth accurately.
• Apply formulas for the area of a square and a rectangle.

Skill building

• Calculate the area of classroom objects.
• Compare the areas of different objects.