Unit 2, Lesson 9
Relate Area to Multiplication
Grade 5
Preparation
Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is for students to calculate the area of a rectangle whose side lengths are a unit fraction and a whole number in a way that makes sense to them.
Lesson Narrative
Students build on their understanding of multiplication and area from IM Grade 3 as they work with areas with fractional side lengths. Students may count the number of smaller parts within a rectangle and will need to recognize and consider the size of these parts, which is a fraction of a square unit. It is important to be precise in the units used to describe the area. Teachers should make sure to refer to “square units” rather than “squares.”
As with the area work in IM Grade 3, the commutative property may be used as a strategy. The commutative property allows students to find products in a way that makes sense to them. For example a student might find the area of a rectangle with side lengths
In Unit 6, students have another opportunity to interpret the product of a fraction and a whole number in the context of multiplication as scaling. This section is about area.
- Explain (orally and in writing) a strategy for determining the area of a rectangle with a whole-number side length and a unit fraction side length.
- Let’s explore the area of rectangles with one side length that is a unit fraction.
Required Preparation
None
Teacher Reflection Questions
As students shared their ideas today, how did you ensure all students’ voices were heard and valued as an important part of the collective learning?
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