Two pages of visual notes for students to keep: the key words with pictures, three ways to find area, four solved problems in the style of the Area Artist game, and where area shows up in real life. To make a PDF, click Print and choose "Save as PDF."
Visual Notes: Area by Multiplying
Grade 3 · CCSS 3.MD.C.7, 3.OA.C.7 · Pairs with the Area Artist game
Name
The big idea: area is how many squares cover a shape. A rectangle is made of rows that are all the same, so you don't have to count every square. Multiply the rows by the columns: 3 rows of 4 is 3 × 4 = 12 squares.
Key vocabulary
Area
How many squares cover a shape. This one: 6 squares.
Unit square
One square, 1 unit on each side. We count area in these.
Row
Squares going across, side by side.
Column
Squares going up and down.
Array
Things in equal rows and columns, like eggs in a carton.
Factor
3 × 4 = 12
The numbers you multiply: 3 and 4.
Product
3 × 4 = 12
The answer when you multiply: 12.
Three ways to find area (they all give the same answer)
The area is 24. One side is 6. What is the other side?
Think: ? × 6 = 24
4 × 6 = 24, so the missing side is 4
✓ Or divide: 24 ÷ 6 = 4
4. Break it apart
Find 4 × 7 by splitting the 7 into 5 + 2.
Left part: 4 × 5 = 20
Right part: 4 × 2 = 8
Add: 20 + 8 = 28
✓ 4 × 7 = 28
Watch out
Area counts the squares inside, not the edges around the outside.
Count each row only once. Multiply rows by how many are in each row.
Write the units: square units, square inches or square feet.
Where you see it in real life
Chocolate bars: 3 rows of 4 pieces is 12.Egg cartons: 2 rows of 6 is 12 eggs.Gardens: 3 rows of 5 plants is 15 plants.Floors: tiles cover the area of a room.