4.SS.3: Demonstrate an understanding of area of regular and irregular 2-D…
Demonstrate an understanding of area of regular and irregular 2-D shapes: area is measured in square units, referents for cm² and m², estimating and recording area, and constructing different rectangles for a given area to show that many rectangles may have the same area.
The Manitoba Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 8 outcome 4.SS.3 (Shape and Space) for Grade 4 says: “Demonstrate an understanding of area of regular and irregular 2-D shapes: area is measured in square units, referents for cm² and m², estimating and recording area, and constructing different rectangles for a given area to show that many rectangles may have the same area.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: Manitoba Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Fence It, Fill It: Area and Perimeter Grades 3–4
Which mat is really the biggest? Does the same fence always hold the same garden? Can the same rug need more edging? Four lessons where students tile, stretch rope and chalk the schoolyard to find out that area and perimeter measure different things.
- Which mat is the biggest? 50–60 min
Teams cover three taped mats with sticky notes and find that the long, thin mat that looks biggest is the same size as a small square one. Students explain area as the number of unit squares that cover a shape, and find it faster by multiplying rows by columns.
- Can the same rug need more edging? 45–60 min
Teams build every rectangle they can from the same 24 square tiles and find that the edging around them runs from 20 to 50 tile edges. Students explain that the same area can have different perimeters, and use length × width = area to find a missing side.
- How much turf for an L-shaped playground? 50–60 min
Teams chalk a real L-shaped playground in the schoolyard, split it into rectangles to find its area, and discover that cutting a corner off a rectangle takes away area but leaves the perimeter exactly the same. Then they design their own playground to a set of criteria.
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