Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 7
- Year 7
Area of a trapezium
I can derive and use the formula for the area of a trapezium.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The area of some trapezia can be found by using compound shapes.
- It is possible to find a relationship between trapizea and parallelograms.
- The relationship between parallelograms and trapezia can be used to deduce the formula for the area of a trapezium.
- The formula can be used to calculate the area of a trapezium.
Keywords
Trapezium - A trapezium is a quadrilateral with a pair of parallel opposite sides.
Trapezia/trapeziums - The plural of trapezium can be referred to as trapezia or trapeziums.
Common misconception
Pupils may incorrectly identify the base of the triangle in the trapezium.
Drawing a trapezium on paper, colouring the sides and cutting it will help them see where the base of the triangle comes from.
To help you plan your year 7 maths lesson on: Area of a trapezium, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 maths lesson on: Area of a trapezium, 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.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Perimeter and area unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The perpendicular height is the perpendicular from the base to the opposite vertex.
Q2.Calculate the area of a triangle with a base of 12 cm and a perpendicular height of 15 cm.
Q3.Calculate the area of the triangle.

Q4.You can write a to calculate the area in an efficient way.
Q5.Calculate the area of this compound rectilinear shape (you do not need to state the units).

Q6.Calculate the area of this compound rectilinear shape (you do not need to state the units).

Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A trapezium is a with exactly one pair of parallel opposite sides.
Q2.Any trapezium can be made using a rectangle and a
Q3.True or false? The formula for the area of a trapezium has to be written as $${1\over2} \times (a + b) \times h$$
Q4.Calculate the area of the trapezium (you do not need to state the units).

Q5.Calculate the area of the trapezium (you do not need to state the units).

Q6.Calculate the area of the trapezium (you do not need to state the units).
