LEGO Games area plates maths mission

Quick answer

LEGO Games area plates maths mission helps you learn how to find the area of shapes by counting unit squares or using multiplication. You can use LEGO plates to build and measure different areas.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to find the area of rectangles and shapes using LEGO plates, by counting unit squares or using multiplication.

• You can count squares to find the area of a shape
• You can multiply length and width to find area
• You can build shapes with LEGO plates and measure their area
• You can solve real-life problems using area

Why this matters

Understanding area helps you in many real-life situations. When you are building with LEGO, you need to know how much space your creations take up. When you are cooking, you need to know how much space a pizza or cake takes up. When you are planning a garden, you need to know how much space each plant needs. Learning area helps you solve these problems easily!

How it works

Area is the amount of space inside a shape. We measure area in square units, like square LEGO plates.

1. Look at a shape made with LEGO plates
2. Count how many unit squares fit inside it
3. Or multiply the length by the width to find the area
4. Use this to compare shapes or solve problems

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you have a LEGO plate that is 1 square unit. If you place 4 of these plates in a row, you make a rectangle that is 4 units long and 1 unit wide. The area is 4 square units.

Here is a table showing how to calculate area using LEGO plates:

Try building these shapes with your LEGO plates and count the squares to check the area!

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are a LEGO architect building a city! Your mission is to design different buildings using LEGO plates and calculate their area.

1st time: Build a small house using 6 plates. What is its area?

2nd time: Build a garden using 8 plates. What is its area?

3rd time: Build a pool using 12 plates. What is its area?

4th time: Build a park using 15 plates. What is its area?

5th time: Compare your shapes. Which one has the biggest area?

For each shape, you can:

• Count the plates to find the area
• Measure the length and width
• Write down the area

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Forgetting to count all the plates in a shape
  Why it happens: When building, children might only count plates on the edge.
  Fix: Make sure to count every plate inside the shape, not just the edges.
• Mistake: Thinking that area is the same as perimeter
  Why it happens: Both involve measuring shapes, so it's easy to mix them up.
  Fix: Remember, area is the space inside, perimeter is the distance around the outside.
• Mistake: Multiplying the wrong numbers
  Why it happens: Sometimes children mix up length and width.
  Fix: Always check that you are multiplying the correct measurements.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child learn area with these tips:

• Build shapes with LEGO plates together and count the squares
• Ask questions like "How many plates fit inside this shape?"
• Encourage your child to use multiplication when possible
• Use real-life examples like the size of a table or a book
• Don't worry if your child makes mistakes – they help learning!
• Try the mini adventure together and make it fun!

Remember: Area is a useful skill that helps in building, cooking, and planning. The more your child practices, the more confident they'll become.

Practice questions

1. How many square plates are needed to make a rectangle that is 4 plates long and 3 plates wide?
2. What is the area of a square that is 5 plates on each side?
3. How many plates are needed to make a rectangle that is 6 plates long and 2 plates wide?
4. If a shape has an area of 10 square plates, and one side is 2 plates, how long is the other side?
5. Build a shape with 8 plates. What is its area?

Answers:

1. 12 square plates
2. 25 square plates
3. 12 square plates
4. 5 plates
5. 8 square plates

FAQ

What is area?

Area is the amount of space inside a shape. We measure it in square units, like square LEGO plates.

How do I find the area of a rectangle?

Multiply the length by the width. For example, a rectangle that is 3 plates long and 2 plates wide has an area of 6 square plates.

Can I use any shape to find area?

Yes! You can find the area of any shape by counting unit squares or using multiplication for rectangles.

Why is learning area useful?

Learning area helps you plan spaces, build things, cook, and solve many real-life problems. It's a useful skill for everyday life!

How can I practice area at home?

You can use LEGO plates to build shapes and count the squares. You can also measure your room or a book to find their area.