Maths Adventures
Treehouse maths quest: area
A story-led junior maths adventure using ladders, plans and height measurements to cover floors, gardens and maps with squares.
Quick answer
Area is the amount of space inside a shape, measured by counting how many squares fit inside it.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will understand how to find the area of shapes by counting squares and know how to use this to solve real-life problems like planning a treehouse or designing a garden. Success signs:- You can count squares to find the area of a shape
- You can explain why we measure area in squares
- You can use area to solve problems about space
- You can compare areas of different shapes
Why this matters
Area helps us understand how much space something takes up. When you're planning a treehouse, you need to know how much floor space you have. When you're planting flowers in a garden, you need to know how much ground to cover. Area is used in cooking (how much batter fits in a pan), building (how much paint to buy), and even in games (how big your playing area is). Understanding area helps you make smart choices about space and planning.How it works
To find the area of a shape, we count how many squares fit inside it. We use a square as our measuring tool because squares fit together perfectly without gaps or overlaps. If we have a shape and we cover it with small squares, the total number of squares tells us the area. This works for any shape, big or small. We can even break up complex shapes into smaller parts and add their areas together.Examples you can see
Let's imagine you're building a treehouse. You want to know how much floor space you have. You can make a plan using squares to show the area. Example 1: Simple rectangle If your treehouse floor is 4 squares long and 3 squares wide, you can count all the squares:| Row | Count |
|---|---|
| 1st row | 4 squares |
| 2nd row | 4 squares |
| 3rd row | 4 squares |
- One rectangle is 3 squares long and 2 squares wide = 6 squares
- Another rectangle is 2 squares long and 1 square wide = 2 squares
| Row | Squares |
|---|---|
| 1st row | 5 squares |
| 2nd row | 5 squares |
| 3rd row | 5 squares |
| 4th row | 5 squares |
Try it as a mini adventure
Treehouse Design Challenge You're the architect of a magical treehouse! You have a plan that shows the shape of your treehouse floor. Here's your plan:- First, you need to make a base that is 5 squares long and 3 squares wide
- Then, you want to add a small room that is 2 squares long and 2 squares wide
- Finally, you want to build a balcony that is 4 squares long and 1 square wide
- 1st part: Base = 5 squares long × 3 squares wide = ? squares
- 2nd part: Small room = 2 squares long × 2 squares wide = ? squares
- 3rd part: Balcony = 4 squares long × 1 square wide = ? squares
- 4th part: Total area = ? + ? + ? = ? squares
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Counting the edges or sides instead of the inside space Why it happens: Children often focus on the outline of shapes Fix: Remember that area is the space inside the shape, not the lines around it
- Mistake: Not counting all squares or missing some Why it happens: When counting, children can skip or double-count Fix: Use a finger or pencil to move along each row and count carefully
- Mistake: Confusing area with perimeter (the distance around the shape) Why it happens: Area and perimeter are both measurements of shapes Fix: Area = inside space, Perimeter = outside distance
Parent and carer guide
How to help your child:- Encourage your child to use squared paper or grid paper when counting squares
- Ask questions like "How many rows did you count?" and "How many squares in each row?"
- Point out real examples around the house: kitchen floor tiles, garden plots, book covers
- Use everyday objects to practice: a book has an area, a table has an area
- Make it fun with games: "How many square tiles would fit on our living room floor?"
- Does your child count carefully without skipping or repeating?
- Can they explain what they mean by "area"?
- Are they getting confused between area and perimeter?
- It's normal for children to make small counting mistakes at first
- They might not know the formal word "area" yet, but they understand the concept
- Don't rush them - let them count carefully and make their own discoveries
Practice questions
- How many squares are in a rectangle that is 4 squares long and 2 squares wide?
- What is the area of a shape that has 3 rows of 5 squares each?
- If a garden is 6 squares long and 3 squares wide, what is its area?
- How many squares are in a shape that is 5 squares long and 4 squares wide?
- What is the area of a shape that has 2 rows of 7 squares each?
- 4 × 2 = 8 squares
- 3 × 5 = 15 squares
- 6 × 3 = 18 squares
- 5 × 4 = 20 squares
- 2 × 7 = 14 squares
FAQ
What is area?
Area is the amount of space inside a shape. We measure it by counting how many squares fit inside it.
Why do we use squares to measure area?
We use squares because they fit together perfectly without gaps or overlaps. This makes it easy to count exactly how much space a shape takes up.
Can I find area of any shape?
Yes! You can find the area of any shape by counting how many squares fit inside it. For complex shapes, you can break them into smaller rectangles.
How is area different from perimeter?
Perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape. Area is the space inside the shape. For example, a rectangle might have a perimeter of 10 units (the outside distance) but an area of 6 square units (the inside space).
How can I practice area at home?
You can practice by looking at floor tiles, counting garden spaces, or using squared paper to draw shapes and count their squares.