Measurement: Area

Initial Composite Structurer

Identifies a square unit as both a unit and a component of a larger unit of units (a row, column, or group) and uses those structures in counting or drawing. However, needs figural support to structure the space themselves (this may include physical motions of some of the tiles or drawing some collections of units rather than from using the dimensions). At this level, usually does not coordinate the width and height and in measuring, may not use the dimensions of the rectangle to constrain the unit size. Makes reasonable estimates of areas.

Activities

You may see this:

Other Examples:

Draws and counts some, but not all, rows as rows. May make several rows and then revert to making individual squares but aligns them in columns. Does not coordinate the width and height. In measurement contexts, does not necessarily use the dimensions of the rectangle to constrain the unit size.

Help your student become a(n) Initial Composite Structurer

Activities require children to understand that multiplying the length and width (linear measures) of a rectangular region yields a 2-dimensional area measure because it calculates how many in each row and how many rows.

Measure Areas

Small Group

Estimating Area