I love teaching geometry and I hope you feel the same way! There are so many great hands-on activities that you can use with your students. I’ve found that students respond really well to geometry standards because they can easily see how these skills are applicable in the real world. That’s definitely true when teaching about finding the area of triangles & quadrilaterals.
Students need to master how to find the area of triangles and quadrilaterals. This is a large part of their foundational knowledge as they continue to advance in school. Soon they’ll be finding the volume of 3D shapes and they’ll miss the good ol’ days of area ?.
We’ve put together a list of 10 Activities for Area of Triangles & Quadrilaterals that has so many great resources for your 6th graders! When I’m on the hunt for geometry related activities, I’m often overwhelmed with how many resources and links I continue to find. Quantity is always good, but I’d rather have a smaller amount of quality activities up my sleeve.
Activities:
- Area of Squares and Rectangles Maze
- Area of Triangles Maze
- Area of Polygons Maze
- Area of Triangles & Quadrilaterals Knockout Game
- Area of Triangles Escape Room
- PBS Video: Area of a Triangle
- Build a Robot
- Math Aids Worksheet
- Moving Day Game
- Area of a Triangle
Area of Squares and Rectangles Maze
Is it just me or does every math teacher always pick the same few numbers when creating math problems? I didn’t realize I had favorite numbers until I started teaching! The Area of Squares and Rectangles Maze is amazing for students and teachers. I always seem to hit a block (pun intended) when creating area problems. This set of mazes is already put together for me so it’s always been a favorite of mine!
This maze comes with 3 math mazes available in both printable and digital formats. The first 2 get students practice finding the area of a given square or rectangle. Then, in the third maze students apply their skills to solve real world problems with area.
Students just get a little more motivated in their math practice when they’re trying to reach a literal finish line, so these mazes are a great way to get them the practice they need.
Area of Triangles Maze
I like to have my students go back and forth between the Area of Squares and Rectangles Maze and the Area of Triangles Maze. It’s so important that students understand how both formulas are related, but still different.
I don’t like when my students memorize formulas really well for a few days and then forget everything I taught them by the time I give a test. Alternating helps me make sure they truly understand and keeps them accountable for their own learning.
The Area of Triangles Maze has 3 mazes, including a final one that has students solving real world problems.
Area of Polygons Maze
Did you think I was done sharing area mazes with you?! The Area of Polygons Maze requires students to know how to find the area of polygons, meaning any number of sides. This is a great review activity. I will use these before a unit test, but I also pull them back out while we prepare for state testing. I’ve found you can definitely reuse a maze students completed months earlier. Trust me, they don’t have the answers memorized.
Area of Triangles & Quadrilaterals Knockout Game
This year my 6th graders have responded so well to knockout games. The Area of Triangles & Quadrilaterals Knockout Game has a large variety of questions for your students to answer, no matter what they’re preparing for!
I always see a correlation between student effort in knockout games with the assessment we are prepping for. I make sure my students understand that the work they put into math, is the work they’re going to get out of it.
Area of Triangles Escape Room
I feel like I’m constantly giving my students new pieces of paper, so it’s always nice when I can use a digital resource. The Area of Triangles Escape Room is a great activity for my students to work on. I can set the expectation of all voices off, but I know that my students are engaged and working hard during that time.
I like to use escape rooms for early finishers, stations, and bell ringers. Depending on the other resources I have for a specific topic, I’ll find the best fit for my current escape room. My favorite part is probably the fact that the students get instant feedback while they’re working on the puzzles!
Have you tried a digital math escape room yet? Teachers & students rave about them! To see what all the fuss is about, click the link below, drop your email, and we’ll send you this FREE digital math escape room!
This escape room is built in Google Slides and has 3 puzzles- one for combining like terms, one for distributive property, and the final one for solving 2-step equations. Grab yours today!
PBS Video: Area of a Triangle
In this two minute video, Julia explains how to find the area of a triangle. My students relate to this video because the person talking is close to their age. She begins by reviewing how to find the area of a quadrilateral. Then, she explains how that is related to finding the area of a triangle. I like this connection she makes because it gives the students a reason for the steps. Here are a few questions to use as a discussion:
- How do you find the area of a quadrilateral?
- How is the area of a triangle related to the area of a quadrilateral?
- Why does she go over professions that use the area of a triangle?
Build a Robot
Your students might be slightly disappointed to learn they’re not making a robot that can do their homework for them, but hopefully they’ll get over it fast. This free activity is a great activity for students to use the skills they’ve been working on.
Students have an assortment of different shapes to use to build their robot. Once they’ve put together their design, they have to find the area of the entire machine. I think this is a great project for students to work on over time or for early finishers.
Math Aids Worksheet
I’ve always been, and continue to be, a loyal fan of math aids worksheets! Their area of polygons worksheet is fantastic for so many reasons. You can choose which polygons you want included from triangles all the way up to octagons. There is also a variety of measuring units to pick from.
You could use a few from one worksheet at the end of the day as an exit ticket. I’ve challenged my gifted students to find the area for multiple units. This can also be used as independent practice while your students are still trying to master the formulas. Don’t let a simple worksheet make you think math has to be boring.
Moving Day Game
The Moving Day Game on Mr. Nussbaum is an interactive activity where students find the area of boxes. The game provides the formula and a calculator.
This game is great for differentiation, both low and high learners. If you have students who need lots of prompting, this is an activity that they can work on while still receiving that additional support. For your higher performers, I would challenge them to create their own version of this game. Who doesn’t want to invent their own online game?!
Area of a Triangle
Mr. Nussbaum has another activity for finding the area of a triangle. This isn’t a game style, but it gives great and instant feedback. There are 10 questions students have to answer based on what they know about the area of a triangle. There is a drop down menu with a variety of answer choices, including different units.
This would be a fast and easy way to collect data on your students. You will instantly receive scores so then you can immediately help reteach individuals or small groups. Did I mention you won’t have to do any grading yourself?!
Everyone Needs a Good Laugh
My students are always trying to find good math memes and jokes to add to my walls. It’s so important that kids have a positive relationship with math. Using creative activities that help students take ownership in their learning is a great way to get them started down that path. I hope you’re able to find a few of these resources help keep your 6th graders engaged this school year!