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Area is a two-dimensional concept related to the geometric concept of an enclosed region. It is defined in the maths curriculum as the size of a surface expressed as a number of square units. Investigations of the size of an area should begin with comparisons between different surfaces and progress to the use of non-standard, and then standard, units. The use of formulae to calculate the areas of common polygons is the final stage of the learning sequence.

Level 1 Area

Achievement Objectives Learning Outcomes Unit title

GM1-1

  • compare lengths from the same starting point
  • use materials to make a long or short construction
  • use materials to compare large and small areas
Worms and more
  • directly compare the area of 2 objects by superimposing
  • cover a shape with smaller shapes
Prints and Outlines
  • cover a shape with non-standard area units and count the number used
  • compare and order areas of shapes using non-standard area units
Great cover up

Level 2 Area

Achievement Objectives Learning Outcomes Unit title

GM2-1

  • recognise the need for a standard unit of area
  • measure surfaces using square centimetres
  • estimate the measure of surfaces using square centimetres
Outlining area

Level 3 Area

Achievement Objectives Learning Outcomes Unit title

GM3-1

  • construct a square metre and use it to measure areas
  • estimate and measure to the nearest square metre
How much room?

GM3-2

  • use multiplication to calculate the area of a rectangle
  • measure the length of a side using a ruler
  • use proportional reasoning to find the area of a rectangle
Areas of Rectangles

GM3-2

  • understand attributes of a measurement unit for area
  • understand the relationship between area and perimeter
  • use patterns to find the area of shapes
Fill it up - flat space

Level 4 Area

Achievement Objectives Learning Outcomes Unit title
GM4-1
GM4-3
  • use a formula to calculate the area of rectangles and squares
  • investigate the relationship between the perimeter and area of rectangles
What goes around...
GM4-3
NA4-9
  • explore the relationship between rows and columns in finding the area of rectangles
  • calculate the area of rectangles, parallelograms, and triangles
You can count on squares!

GM4-3

  • recognise that two identical right angled triangles can be joined to make a rectangle
  • recognise that a triangle has half the area of a rectangle with the same base and height lengths
  • apply the rule 'area of triangle equals half base times height'
Triangles

GM4-3

  • understand and apply the rule ‘area of triangle equals half base times height’
  • connect the area of a parallelogram to the area of the rectangle from which it can be created
  • find the volumes of cuboids with whole number dimensions
Areas and volumes

Level 5 Area

Achievement Objectives Learning Outcomes Unit title

GM5-4

  • find areas of shapes
  • find simple two-variable linear patterns relating to areas
Fences and Posts
GM5-3
GM5-5
GM5-10
  • apply Pythagoras' theorem
  • use their knowledge of the sum of interior angles of a polygon
  • construct angles based on halving and combining 90° and other straightforward angles
  • apply knowledge of length and area

How High?

GM5-4
GM5-9
NA5-4
  • use scale factors to investigate areas being enlarged
  • use scale factors to investigate volumes being enlarged
  • solve real life context probelms involving scale factors
Scale Factors for Areas and Volumes