Area Measurement Dinner Menu

A Differentiation Strategy

Appetizer (Everyone)

Which rectangle is the biggest?

o Anticipate as many strategies as you can for ways students might sequence the
rectangles by area.

Main Dish (Choose 1)

How can you find the area of any ________?
1. Anticipate multiple strategies students could use to find the area of any parallelogram. Develop a
formula for the area of any parallelogram.
2. Anticipate multiple strategies students could use to find the area of any triangle. Develop a formula
for the area of any triangle.
3. Anticipate multiple strategies students could use to find the area of any trapezoid. Develop a
formula for the area of any trapezoid.

Side Dishes (Choose 1)

How can you use what you know about decomposing and composing geometirc shapes
to find the area of unfamiliar or new shapes?
A. There is a mass of trash in the Pacific Ocean known as a garbage patch. The area of the Great
Pacific Ocean garbage patch is the same as the area of the state of Texas. Find this area.
Here is a website with more information about the garbage page:
http://www.greenbang.com/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-great-pacificgarbage-patch_21885.html
B. The Bermuda Triangle is a famous area of ocean with an incredible history of mysteries. Find
the area of the Bermuda Triangle. Is the Bermuda Triangle truly a triangle? If not, what shape
is it? Why? If its not a triangle, how could you approximate the total area covered?
Here is a video with more information about the Bermuda Triangle:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/bermuda-triangle-mystery/

C. The Sir Cumference book series is a twist on the Knights of the Round Table. Read Sir
Cumference and the Dragon of Pi. Use what you learn about the relationship between
circumference and pi to find the area of a circle. Also consider ways you could decompose or
compose circles using other geometric shapes. Develop a formula for finding the area of any
circle.
D. Animal Crackers Playground See attached directions about designing a playground with
particular constraints on area and perimeter.

Dessert (Optional)
Create a differentiation plan for one of your above tasks. Differentiate the content, process, or
product of one of your tasks by readiness or interest.
Go to the NCTM Illuminations Lesson Plans and Interactives. What virtual manipulatives and
simulations are available to address measuring area? How could you use this resource to address
level(s) of the learning progression?
Go to the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. What virtual manipulatives and simulations
are available to address measuring area? How could you use this resource to address level(s) of the
learning progression?