To understand area, children need to experience the concept of space on a flat surface. To introduce the skill, we examined rectangles and  squares and discussed how they could be divided into grids of unit squares.  We read the book Spaghetti and Meatballs for All, which allowed for additional understanding.  We then located surfaces in the classroom that have an area.   Many students realized that area could be measured by measuring length x width.  Providing many  hands on experiences helped students to better understand the concept and this knowledge led to the ability to compare areas. Take a look at some of our learning activities!

We used Legos and other STEM materials to create shapes with specific areas:

We compared and contrasted areas using…you guessed it…toilet paper:

We used Cheez-Its to explore area: