Measure the area of flat shapes using square metres
Lesson details
Learning outcome
You can measure the area of large shapes using square metres.
Key learning points
- Area can be measured in square metres.
- You write square metres as m²
- Fractions of square metres can be added to make whole square metres.
Keywords
Square metre - A square metre is a unit of measure equal to a square that is one metre on each side.
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that an area of one square metre has to be in the shape of a square.
Take two large pieces of paper, each one square metre, and fold them in half in different ways. Bring them together to form a square metre.
Teacher tip
This practical lesson is very open-ended. There are many possibilities for making rectilinear shapes with a given square area. They could explore large areas with metre squared pieces of paper and also consider different fractions of square metres.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these items is approximately a metre in length?
Q2.Match the item with the square unit that would be the most useful for finding its area.
Q3.Which of these is another way of writing 'square metres'?
Q4.Which of these sets of fractions total one whole?
Q5.What is the area of this shape? cm²
Q6.What is the area of this shape? cm²
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these surfaces would you measure using square metres?
Q2.How many different ways can this value be expressed?
Q3.Which value shows the best estimate of the whole area?
Q4.True or false? This shape has an area of two square metres.
Q5.Match the shape to the total area.
Q6.Which of the shapes have an area of 5 square metres?
To help you plan your 5 maths lesson on: Measure the area of flat shapes using square metres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 maths lesson on: Measure the area of flat shapes using square metres, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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