WHAT EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT STUDENTS UNDERSTAND
AREA?

• Tile Talk. Students use tiles to figure how many of each size it would take to cover one square foot, then project their findings to cover a 100 square foot area. Students computer prices of each tile for the large space. Worksheet is finished and checked.
• Unlock a Block. Students use lock blocks to freeform shapes. They count block area and record numbers on data sheet. They try to change the area by rearranging the blocks. They deduce if area has a pattern and use the pattern to show the formula.
• Brick It! Students arrange and trace brick templates of differing sizes to fill a12" by 18" sheet. They must develop a repeating pattern. They project the pattern they built to a much larger area and compute the price of their design on the worksheet. Their patterns will be displayed and possibly judged for cost effectiveness or aesthetic value.
• Paint the Town. Students will use measurement tools to measure the classroom walls, floor, and ceiling. They will compute the area of the walls and ceiling for buying paint. The group will use a digital camera to record the steps that are important in the process. They will figure the amount of paint needed for the classroom on a worksheet.
• PowerPoint. Students will import photographs from a digital camera and insert them into PowerPoint slides to build a presentation, "How to Measure a Room for Painting."At least five slides will cover the major steps to measure a room. Photographs must be explained with captions and steps. Students may insert sound, clip art, and animation if desired. Slide show will be presented to class.
• Inspiration. Students will use the Inspiration, Word, or PowerPoint program to create a graphic organizer with real life situations in which finding area is important. Students may use graphics, color, or photographs. If possible, the organizer will be printed and displayed.
• Station A (optional). Students will cut out and tape together patterns for geometric shapes (cubes, pyramids, etc.) They will then find area using graph paper, tracing each side on the paper and counting square units. They will try to determine and test formulas with their results.
• Students will share their presentations and findings with the class and explain and justify their conclusions.