Measuring Area: Squares and Rectangles
Year 6 Mathematics Understanding Surface Space Using Square Centimetres
What is Area?
Area is the amount of surface covered by a shape It tells us how much space is inside a flat shape We measure area using square units Each square unit is like a small tile covering the shape
Square Centimetres (cm²)
We use square centimetres to measure area Each square is 1 cm long and 1 cm wide The symbol is cm² No gaps or overlaps when counting squares
Counting Squares Activity
Look at the rectangle on your grid paper Count each square inside the shape Remember: no gaps, no overlaps Write down the total number of squares
Finding Area with Multiplication
Instead of counting every square, we can multiply Length × Width = Area A rectangle 4 cm long and 3 cm wide 4 × 3 = 12 cm²
Rectangles vs Squares
{"left":"Rectangle: Length and width are different\nExample: 5 cm × 3 cm = 15 cm²","right":"Square: All sides are the same length\nExample: 4 cm × 4 cm = 16 cm²"}
Draw and Calculate
Draw a rectangle 6 cm × 2 cm on your grid Draw a square 3 cm × 3 cm Calculate the area of each shape Remember to include cm² in your answer
Quick Check
What is the area of a rectangle that is 7 cm long and 4 cm wide? Show your working! Remember to include the units in your answer
Real-World Applications
Measuring carpet for a room Planning a garden bed Calculating paint needed for a wall Designing a playground area
Key Learning
Area = Length × Width Always use the same units (cm²) Count carefully or multiply accurately Area helps us solve real problems