Finding Area of Irregular Shapes - Grades 3-5

Goals and Standards

Colorado Academic Standards:

• 3.MD.C. Measurement & Data: Geometric measurement: Use concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and to addition. 

Mathematical Practice Standards:

• MP3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. 
• MP5. Use appropriate tools strategically. 
• MP6. Attend to precision. 
• MP7. Look for and make use of structure. 

Learning Goal:

• Understanding that area is the number of square units that cover a flat figure, without any gaps or overlaps, within the boundaries 
• Understand that area can be used to represent multiplicative reasoning
• Understand that area changes depending on shapes and sizes
• Determine area of shapes composed of rectangles