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Year 5

Explain how to compare the area of different shapes

I can compare the areas of different shapes.

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New
New
Year 5

Explain how to compare the area of different shapes

I can compare the areas of different shapes.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The units of counting area must be the same if you want to compare the areas of different shapes.
  2. The squares used to count the area must be the same size to compare the area of the shapes.
  3. The shape covering the most squares has the greatest area.

Common misconception

If two shapes share a dimension such as length, they must automatically have the same area.

Print out and enlarge the tasks so the shapes may be cut out and one laid on top of the other so that the difference can be seen.

Keywords

  • Area - The measurement of a flat surface. It measures a 2D space.

  • Ascending - Items arranged from smallest to largest.

  • Descending - Items arranged from largest to smallest.

The final question on the worksheet is very open-ended and allows pupils to explore. To add extra challenge, encourage pupils to draw unusual shapes, for example ones with curved sides or ones which use triangles which do not occupy half a square.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the symbols with the correct meanings.
Correct Answer:<,less than

less than

Correct Answer:>,greater than

greater than

Correct Answer:=,equal to

equal to

Q2.
Which of the following statements are correct?
Correct answer: 28 > 2.8
28 = 2.8
28 > 28
2.8 > 28
Correct answer: 2.8 < 28
Q3.
Order the following numbers so that they are in ascending order.
1 - 0
2 - 3.5
3 - 5.3
4 - 35
5 - 53
Q4.
Select all of the sequences that are in descending order.
Correct answer: 59, 48.2, 5.7, 0, −2
−2, 0, 5.7, 48.2, 59
Correct answer: 9.2, 6.73, 3.961, 1
1, 3.961, 6.73, 9.2
Q5.
Select all of the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a has an area of 8 square units.
b has an area of 10 square units.
Both shapes are rectilinear.
Correct answer: Both shapes are non-rectilinear.
Correct answer: The small triangles in each shape each make up half a square unit.
Q6.
Select all of the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
a has an area of 16 square units.
Correct answer: b has an area of 9 square units.
Correct answer: a takes up more space than b
Correct answer: b takes up less space than a
Correct answer: In both shapes, two small triangles combine to make one square unit.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select all of the items that would have a greater area than the circular clock face.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A television screen.
A 10 p coin.
Correct answer: A tabletop.
The stamp on an envelope.
Correct answer: The front of a classroom door.
Q2.
Match the words with their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:area,The measurement of a flat surface. It measures a 2D space.

The measurement of a flat surface. It measures a 2D space.

Correct Answer:ascending ,Arranged from smallest to largest.

Arranged from smallest to largest.

Correct Answer:descending,Arranged from largest to smallest.

Arranged from largest to smallest.

Correct Answer:rectilinear ,A 2D shapes with straight sides and only right angles.

A 2D shapes with straight sides and only right angles.

Q3.
Put the following objects in descending order according to their area.
1 - A school playground.
2 - A classroom window.
3 - The front of your Maths books.
4 - A sticky note.
Q4.
Select all of the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a has a greater area than b.
Correct answer: b has a smaller area than a.
The two rectangles have the same area (six square units).
Correct answer: The size of the square units in these shapes is different.
Q5.
Put the following shapes in ascending order according to their area.
An image in a quiz
1 - d
2 - b
3 - a
4 - c
Q6.
Tick all the statements that are true.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The area of a = the area of b.
The area of a > the area of b.
The area of a < the area of b.
It is impossible to compare the shapes because a is not rectilinear.
Correct answer: The two shapes have exactly the same area.