Understanding Area
Emily and Mauricio recall the formula to find the area of a rectangle: Area equals length times width (A = L • W). Then they go beyond the formula to understand the meaning of area measurement units (such as a square inch or a square centimeter), the relationship between linear and area measurement units, what the 24 in 24 in2 represents, and the meaning of multiplication in the area formula.
Episode 1: Making Sense
Mauricio and Emily distinguish between area and perimeter in the context of a rectangular pizza, as the amount of pizza one gets to eat versus the distance around the pizza.
Episode 2: Exploring
Emily and Mauricio find the area of two differently-sized rectangular pizza slices in order to determine whether each slice has the same amount of pizza.
Episode 3: Reflecting
The students reflect on the meaning of 24 in2 as the area of a rectangular piece of pizza, by drawing 24 of something inside the pizza and by considering the meaning of an inch squared.
Episode 4: Exploring
Emily and Mauricio revise their drawing from Episode 3, this time showing the meaning of 24 in2 as 24 units where each unit is a square with side length of 1 inch.
Episode 5: Reflecting
Mauricio and Emily reflect on the meaning of two other area measurement units—cm2 and ft2.
Episode 6: Exploring
The students create and use a drawing, rather than a formula, to find the area of a rectangle that is 7 inches long and 4.5 inches wide.
Episode 7: Repeating Your Reasoning
Emily and Mauricio apply their understanding of area to create four different shapes, each with an area of 8 cm2.
Episode 8: Reflecting
Mauricio and Emily reflect on the meaning of multiplication in the formula for the area of a rectangle.