Introduction: Each problem below describes an area and shows a diagram. For some diagrams, a scale is used. Measure or calculate each of the areas. Show or explain how you got your answers.

Problem:

1. Figure 1 (see accompanying sheet) is a newspaper advertisement. What is its area? Show or explain how you got your answer.
2. Figure 2 (see accompanying sheet) is the lid to a can. What is its area? Show or explain how you got your answer.
3. Figure 3 (see accompanying sheet) is a drawing of a robot made by a young child. What is its area? Show or explain how you got your answer.
4. Figure 4 (see accompanying sheet) is a scale drawing of a swimming pool surrounded by a patio. The scale is 1 cm = 2.5 m. What is the area of the patio (the white area not including the black swimming pool)? Show or explain how you got your answer.
5. Figure 5 (see accompanying sheet) is a scale drawing of a pond. The scale is 1 cm = 100 m. What is the area of the pond? Show or explain how you got your answer.

Materials: pencil, paper, ruler, calculator, scissors; grid paper; balance

Extra Questions: Make other diagrams with various shapes or combinations of shapes and calculate their areas. Exchange these with classmates. Use scale factors for some of them.

Area, measurement, ratio and proportion, critical and creative thinking, communication

  Activity Type:

Group      Individual 

  Assessment:

Scale:    Levels 1-5   
Self     Peer     Teacher 
Include in your portfolio?
Yes     No     Optional 
Toward Your Marks?
Yes     No     Optional 

  Hints:

It may be useful to copy or trace some of the diagrams to help in estimation or measurement.