LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Geometry: Area Project

Students will familiarize themselves with area formulas by completing a hands-on area project.

A lesson plan for grade 6 Mathematics

By Kim Brinson

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Learning outcomes

The students will be able to identify and use area formulas for finding the area of geometric shapes.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1 hour

Materials/resources

-different sized geometric shapes cut out of construction paper
-rulers
-formula sheet with all needed formulas -student worksheet
-calculators

Technology resources

none

Pre-activities

The students will need to know how to measure objects with a ruler using centimeters or inches. In addition, the students need to read over the formulas and familiarize themselves with what each variable represents.

Activities

Teacher:
1. Cut out different sized circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, rhombi, and regular polygons. (Hint: If you will laminate theses shapes, they will last longer.)
2. Label each shape with a number so they can be easily identified.
3. Create a worksheet that has listed the number of shapes that you have created. Place a blank beside each number so the students have a place to put the area of each shape.
4. Create a worksheet that has all the area formulas that the students will need for the project. Make sure that the worksheet includes what each variable represents in each formula.

Students:
1. Read over the formula sheet and familiarize yourself with each formula.
2. Using a ruler, measure the parts of each shape that are needed for each formula.
3. Substitute the measurements from each shape into their approriate formulas and write the answer on the worksheet.

Assessment

Graded worksheets

Supplemental information

formula sheet

Related websites

Perimeter and area formulas
http://math.about.com/library/blmeasurement.htm

Comments

none

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will select and use appropriate tools to measure two- and three-dimensional figures.
    • Objective 2.02: Solve problems involving perimeter/circumference and area of plane figures.
  • Goal 3: Geometry -The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of geometric figures in the coordinate plane.
    • Objective 3.04: Solve problems involving geometric figures in the coordinate plane.