3.MD.6: Measuring Area by Counting Unit Squares

Visual Models to Use

• Grid Paper - Use centimeter or inch grid paper to draw shapes and count squares
• Tile Arrays - Arrange square tiles to cover shapes and count the tiles
• Geoboards - Create shapes on a geoboard and count the unit squares inside
• Digital Tools - Use online grid tools that allow your child to create shapes and automatically calculate area

Everyday Activities

1. Floor Plan Designer

Have your child design a bedroom or playroom on grid paper where each square represents 1 square foot. Ask questions like "How many square feet is the bedroom?" or "If we put a 3 ft × 4 ft rug in this corner, what area will it cover?"

2. Garden Planning

Plan a small garden on grid paper where each square represents 1 square foot. Have your child determine how many plants can fit if each plant needs 4 square feet of space.

3. Area Scavenger Hunt

Find rectangular objects around your home (books, placemats, device screens). Have your child measure the length and width in inches, draw the shape on grid paper, and count squares to find the area.

4. Comparing Areas

Cut out different shapes from grid paper, all with the same area (e.g., 12 square units). Challenge your child to verify that they all have the same area by counting squares, even though they look different.

Strategies When Your Child Struggles

1. Start with Concrete Materials

Use physical square tiles that your child can manipulate before moving to paper and pencil. Having them physically cover shapes helps build understanding.

2. Use Color-Coding

Have your child color in each square as they count it. This helps them keep track and ensures they don't miss any squares or count them twice.

3. Break Shapes into Smaller Parts

For irregular shapes, teach your child to divide them into smaller rectangles, find the area of each part, and then add them together.

4. Create an Organized Counting System

Teach your child to count squares systematically, such as row by row or column by column, to avoid missing squares or counting them twice.

5-Minute Practice Activities

1. Quick Area Drawings

Call out an area (e.g., "Draw a shape with an area of 12 square units"). Have your child quickly draw a shape on grid paper with that area. Repeat with different areas.

2. Area Riddles

Give clues about a shape's area and have your child draw it. "I'm thinking of a rectangle with an area of 24 square units. One side is 6 units long. What does my rectangle look like?"

3. Partial Squares Challenge

Draw shapes on grid paper that include partial squares (squares that are cut by the boundary of the shape). Discuss how to estimate the area by deciding whether each partial square is closer to a whole square or half square.

4. Same Area, Different Shapes

Challenge your child to draw three different shapes that all have the same area (e.g., 16 square units).

Mid-Year Expectations

By the middle of third grade, your child should be able to:

• Understand that area is measured in square units
• Identify what a unit square is (square cm, square in, etc.)
• Count unit squares to find the area of simple rectangular shapes
• Draw shapes with a given area on grid paper
• Compare two shapes to determine which has a larger area

End-of-Year Expectations

By the end of third grade, your child should be able to:

• Measure areas by counting unit squares accurately
• Find the area of irregular shapes by counting squares
• Use appropriate units when describing area (square cm, square in, etc.)
• Solve simple real-world problems involving area
• Understand that the same area can be represented by different shapes

Mastery Signs

Your child has mastered this standard when they can:

• Independently measure the area of various shapes by counting unit squares
• Choose appropriate units for measuring area in different contexts
• Accurately count partial squares when measuring irregular shapes
• Create shapes with a specified area
• Apply area measurement to solve real-world problems
• Explain their area-counting strategy clearly

Below Grade Level

For students who need additional support with basic area concepts.

Download Practice Worksheet

At Grade Level

For students who are working at the expected level for this standard.

Download Grade Level Worksheet

Above Grade Level

For students who are ready for more challenging area measurement problems.

Download Challenge Worksheet