Educator Resources for Area Builder
In Area Builder, students explore the relationship between perimeter and area while creating their own shapes using colorful blocks. Students develop strategies to find the area of a shape by counting unit squares or by decomposing irregular shapes into smaller, regular shapes. Students can also investigate the scale factor for similar shapes and generalize how area and perimeter change while scaling shapes. In the game, students are challenged to find the area of a shape, or build a shape with a given perimeter, area, or fractional area.
Lesson Plans
Scaling Shapes Lesson Plan: PhET Interactive Simulations
Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
What’s My Area Lesson Plan: PhET Area Builder Simulation
Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8
Area Builder Lesson Plan: PhET Interactive Simulations
Grade Levels: 3-5