Big Ideas:
Complex shapes are made up of simpler, less complex shapes such as rectangles.
Up to this point students have learned many strategies to find the area of a rectangle. As students approach learning how to find the area of rectilinear figures, it is important that they have a good understanding of the word decompose and how to decompose a complex shape into simple shapes. This lesson focuses on developing this understanding. This lesson builds towards students' work with determining the area of rectilinear figures in future lessons.
Vocabulary:
decompose, compose, complex shape, simple shape, rectilinear figure
Special Materials:
pattern blocks
Lesson plan