Area of rectilinear shapes

A complete lesson on area of rectilinear shapes, with a strong problem solving and creative element.

Activities included:

Starter:
See cover slide - a prompt to think about properties of shapes, in part to lead to a definition of rectilinear polygons.

Main:

• A question for pupils to discuss, considering which of two methods gives the correct answer for the area of an L-shape.
• A worksheet showing another L-shape, 6 times with 6 different sums. Pupils try to figure out the method used from the sum.
• A second worksheet that is really hard to describe but involves pupils thinking critically about how the area of increasingly intricate rectilinear shapes can have the same area. This sets pupils up to go on to create their own interesting shapes with the same area, by generalising about the necessary conditions for this to happen, and ways to achieve this (without counting all the squares!)
• A third worksheet with more conventional area questions, that could be used as a low-stakes test or a homework. Most questions have the potential to be done in more than one way, so could also be used to get pupils discussing and comparing methods.

Plenary:
A final question of sorts, where pupils have to identify the information sufficient to work out the area of a given rectilinear shape.

Printable worksheets and answers included. I’ve also included suggestions for key questions and follow up questions in the comments boxes at the bottom of each slide.

Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!