Exploration and practice are approaches used in this unit designed to help students generate formulas and understand how they work. Students compose and decompose
shapes as they try formulas for areas of triangles and parallelograms. Spatial thinking is
emphasized using drawings. The hands-on activities help students build visual images and construct meaning.
Students use challenging task cards to practice calculating the area and perimeter of rectangles and triangles. Students visualize and discuss the difference between area and perimeter.