How to use this sheet

  • Have the child mark the base and the height of each shape before using a formula.
  • Show why a triangle is half a rectangle by drawing the rectangle around it.
  • For composite figures, have the child split the shape and label each part with its area.

Common mistakes

  • Using a slanted side as the height. The height is straight up from the base, at a right angle.
  • Forgetting to halve for a triangle, so the area is base × height.
  • For a trapezoid, using only one base. Add the two parallel sides, then halve and multiply by the height.

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