measuring area

Objective:

The object of this activity is to measure the area of different shapes and then place this information into a table on the computer.

Use these definitions to help you:

Area is the number of square units that can fit into the shape (this activity will use square inches for the unit) Area = length x width

Area

1. Take a piece of 1-inch graph paper. Each square is equal to 1 square inch or 1 inch
2. Place the red rectangle on the graph paper. (If using a transparency, put the rectangle under the plastic.)
3. Count the number of square inches the red rectangle covers. This is the area of the red rectangle.
4. Record this number on the table below.
5. Repeat these steps with the remaining rectangles.
   

Now you are going to enter this information into a table on the computer. Turn to page two for the directions.

1. Click on the Table shortcut button in the toolbar. You will need to create a 6 x 2 table. (You will notice that the shortcut button only shows a 4 x 5 table. Highlight the top three squares and then click and drag the mouse downward until the table expands to make a 6 x 2.)
   

2. In the first box type the word Rectangle. Highlight the word by clicking and dragging the cursor over it. Now underline the word by clicking on the Underline shortcut button in the toolbar. In the second box type the word Perimeter. Underline it also.
3. In the Rectangle column type the words Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Orange (one word in each box). Your table should look the one on page 1 of this activity.
4. Enter the measurements you wrote down earlier into the table.
5. Now you are going to make your table look fancy. Make sure that your cursor is in the table. Go under Table and select Select Table.
6. Now go under Table again and select Cell Height and Width. When the window appears, click on the Row tab.
7. In the Height of rows 1-6: box change it to say At least. In the At: box change the number to be 36 pt. Click OK
8. Now highlight the word Red. To change this word to be the color red, click on the little black triangle in the Font Color button in the toolbar. Move your cursor over to the red square and click once.
9. Now highlight the word Blue. Change its color to blue by following the same steps in number 11.
10. Change the colors of the words Green, Yellow, and O
11. When finished, print your project.