Area: how much flat space a shape covers
In 3rd grade, children learn what area is: the amount of flat space a shape covers, measured by how many equal squares fit inside without gaps or overlaps.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 3rd grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
You want to cover a rectangular garden with new grass. Which measurement tells you how much grass you need?
- Perimeter
- Length
- Area
Why this matters
Picturing area as covering space gives every area number your child meets a real meaning. It keeps area and perimeter from blurring together, and it explains why area is measured in square units. This picture leads to multiplying length by width later this year and to volume, the space inside a box, in 5th grade. Everyday tasks like choosing a rug or tiling a floor use it.
Where kids can get stuck
- Leaving gaps or overlapping tiles when covering a shape, then counting anyway, so the area comes out wrong.
- Confusing area with perimeter, counting unit lengths along the edges instead of the space inside.
- Thinking shapes with different outlines cannot share an area, though a long strip and a square can both cover 16 squares.
How you can help
- Cover a placemat or cutting board with crackers or sticky notes, making sure there are no gaps, and count how many it took.
- Lay out square floor tiles or count squares on a patterned rug and ask your child how many squares cover the space.
- Arrange 12 square crackers into different shapes on a plate and ask your child whether each shape covers the same amount of space.
For more, Bobby's Math Club has free practice at your child’s level.
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning area by covering shapes with squares?
Covering shapes shows what area actually means: how many squares it takes to fill a flat space. Once your child understands this, the formula for a rectangle's area makes sense, because rows of squares are equal groups. Children who learn the formula first often mix up area and perimeter because they do not have a picture of what each one measures.
What is a square unit?
A square unit is a square that measures 1 unit on each side. If the unit is an inch, it is a square inch. If it is a centimeter, it is a square centimeter. Area is counted in these squares, so a rectangle covered by 15 square inches has an area of 15 square inches.
What is the difference between area and perimeter?
Area is the space inside a flat shape, like the carpet that covers a floor. Perimeter is the distance around the edge, like the trim along the walls. Your child will learn perimeter later in 3rd grade. Building a strong picture of area now helps keep the two ideas separate.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 3rd grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- A few minutes a day, at just the right level
- You see their progress and what to work on next
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Ready to watch your child’s confidence grow?
Your 3rd grade child can start today with free, unlimited practice that grows with them.
Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 3.MD.C.5: “Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement. a. A square with side length 1 unit, called "a unit square," is said to have "one square unit" of area, and can be used to measure area. b. A plane figure which can be covered without gaps or overlaps by n unit squares is said to have an area of n square units.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 3.MD.5)