NY Next Generation Math NY-3.MD.5.a
The Standard
Recognize a square with side length 1 unit, called "a unit square," is said to have "one square unit" of area, and can be used to measure area.
New York State Next Generation Mathematics Learning Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students recognize a square with side length 1 unit as a unit square. They use the square as a standard area unit and name its area as one square unit.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student draws a 1-centimeter by 1-centimeter square and labels its area one square centimeter. The student distinguishes the square unit from a one-centimeter length segment.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may call any square a unit square without checking its side length. They may label its area with linear units or confuse one square unit with one unit around the boundary.
How to Assess It
- Ask students to draw a square with side length 1 inch, label its area correctly, and explain why the unit is square inches.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Construct unit squares with side lengths of one inch or one centimeter, then label their side lengths and areas.
Ask students why a one-inch segment and one square inch describe different attributes.
Play unit-square check by sorting squares with labeled side lengths into valid and invalid area units.
Make paper square-centimeter tiles for measuring the surface of a bookmark or card.
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Printable NY-3.MD.5.a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- NY-1.MD.2
Measure the length of an object using same-size "length units" placed end to end with no gaps or overlaps. Express the length of an object as a whole number of ...
- NY-3.MD.6
Measure areas by counting unit squares.
- NY-3.MD.5.b
Recognize a plane figure which can be covered without gaps or overlaps by n unit squares is said to have an area of n square units.
- NY-5.MD.3.a
Recognize that a cube with side length 1 unit, called a "unit cube," is said to have "one cubic unit" of volume, and can be used to measure volume.
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