Zoo maths quest: area

Quick answer

Area is the amount of space inside a shape, and you can find it by counting how many square units fit inside it. In a zoo, you can use area to work out how big a habitat is or how much space each animal needs.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to find the area of simple shapes by counting squares and understand how area helps in planning animal habitats.

• You can count squares to find the area of a rectangle or square
• You can use area to work out how much space animals need
• You can compare areas of different shapes
• You can imagine how to make a habitat using a grid of squares

Why this matters

Knowing how much space something takes up is really useful! In a zoo, if you know the area of a habitat, you can make sure each animal has enough room to live happily. You also use area in your everyday life when you are planning a garden, laying out toys, or even choosing the right size bed for your room.

How it works

Area is the amount of space inside a shape. You can find the area by:

1. Using a grid or a drawing with square units
2. Counting how many squares fit inside the shape
3. For rectangles, you can also multiply the length by the width

Think of area like a puzzle. If you have a shape and you put square tiles inside it, the number of tiles you need shows how big the shape is.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are helping plan a new home for a giraffe at the zoo. The giraffe’s new habitat is a rectangle that is 5 squares long and 3 squares wide.

So the area is 15 square units. That means 15 square tiles would fit perfectly inside the giraffe’s habitat.

Here is another example. Imagine a square-shaped kangaroo pen that is 4 squares on each side.

So the area of the kangaroo pen is 16 square units.

Try it as a mini adventure

Join Zara the zookeeper on a quest to design the perfect home for a new animal! Zara has a grid map of the zoo, and she needs your help to plan the right size habitat for each animal. Here’s your adventure:

1. Find the area of the new elephant habitat (it is 6 squares long and 4 squares wide)
2. Compare it to the giraffe’s habitat (5 squares long and 3 squares wide)
3. Decide if the elephant needs more or less space
4. Draw a square that has an area of 9 square units

When you’ve done these tasks, you’ll have helped Zara make the best plan for the animals!

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Counting the lines instead of the squares inside the shape.
  Why it happens: Children might think the lines are the spaces.
  Fix: Use a pencil to trace inside the shape to show where the squares go.
• Mistake: Forgetting to count all the squares in a shape.
  Why it happens: It’s easy to miss some when counting quickly.
  Fix: Count slowly, and use a finger or a small object to move along the shape.
• Mistake: Thinking area means the distance around the shape.
  Why it happens: This is the idea of perimeter, not area.
  Fix: Remember: area = inside space, perimeter = around the edge.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child by:

• Using a grid paper or drawing a simple shape with squares
• Letting them count squares and talk about how they did it
• Reinforcing that area is about inside space, not the outside edges
• Using real-life examples like a table, a book, or a garden
• Encouraging them to check their counting by starting from a different corner

Don’t worry if they make a mistake — it’s part of learning. Ask them to explain how they counted and help them see where they went wrong. Keep it fun and encourage exploration!

Practice questions

1. What is the area of a rectangle that is 3 squares long and 2 squares wide?
2. What is the area of a square that is 4 squares on each side?
3. Which has a bigger area: a shape that is 5 squares long and 2 squares wide, or one that is 3 squares long and 4 squares wide?
4. Draw a shape with an area of 8 square units.
5. How many square tiles are needed to cover a floor that is 6 squares long and 3 squares wide?

Answers:

1. 6 square units
2. 16 square units
3. The second shape (12 square units) is bigger
4. Any shape with 8 squares inside (e.g., a rectangle 4 by 2)
5. 18 square units

FAQ

What is area?

Area is the amount of space inside a shape. You can think of it like covering a shape with square tiles.

How do I find the area of a rectangle?

You can count the squares inside it, or multiply the length by the width.

Can I use area to plan a garden?

Yes! If you know how much space each plant needs, you can use area to plan how many plants fit in your garden.

What is the difference between area and perimeter?

Area is the inside space, and perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape.

Why do we need to know area?

Knowing area helps us plan spaces like homes, gardens, and animal habitats so that everything fits well and has enough room.