Area is rows times columns: 3rd grade math lesson

What this lesson shows

4 rows of 8 squares: 4 × 8 = 32 square units.

The worked example

The lesson works this one step by step: 8 by 4. Then your kid tries one like it on paper.

The steps

Rows of unit squares
Multiply instead of counting
Area = length × width

Helping at home

Picture the unit squares as rows: the width says how many rows, the length how many in each. Multiply length times width. Either order gives the same area, in square units.

If your kid gets stuck

How many rows, and how many in each row?

Watch it with Lux

With Lux, this lesson is a narrated video and a printed page your kid works on. Then Lux helps with the same math on their own worksheet, one question at a time.

See how Lux works

Standards

Common Core 3.MD.C.7a
Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths by tiling it, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying the side lengths.
Common Core 3.MD.C.7b
Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole-number side lengths in the context of solving real world and mathematical problems, and represent whole-number products as rectangular areas in mathematical reasoning.

Matches standards in 49 statesSee each state's code

Alabama MA19.3.20, MA19.3.22
Alaska 3.MD.9.a, 3.MD.9.b
Arizona 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Arkansas 3.GM.6, 3.GM.7
California 3.MD.C.7
Colorado 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Connecticut 3.MD.C.7
Delaware 3.MD.C.7
District of Columbia 3.MD.C.7
Florida MA.3.GR.2.2
Georgia 3.GSR.7.3
Hawaii 3.MD.C.7
Idaho 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Illinois 3.MD.C.7
Indiana 3.M.5
Iowa 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Kansas 3.MD.8.a, 3.MD.8.b
Kentucky KY.3.MD.7.a, KY.3.MD.7.b
Louisiana 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Maine 3.MD.C.7a, 3.MD.C.7b
Maryland 3.GR.C.7.a
Massachusetts 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Michigan 3.MD.C.7
Minnesota 4.3.2.3
Mississippi 3.MD.7.a, 3.MD.7.b
Missouri 3.GM.C.11, 3.GM.C.12, 3.GM.C.13
Montana MT.3.MD.7.a, MT.3.MD.7.b
Nebraska 3.G.2.c
Nevada 3.MD.C.7
New Hampshire 3.MD.C.7
New Jersey 3.M.B.5a, 3.M.B.5b
New Mexico 3.MD.C.7
New York NY-3.MD.7.a, NY-3.MD.7.b
North Carolina NC.3.MD.7.a, NC.3.MD.7.b
North Dakota 3.GM.M.8
Ohio 3.MD.7.a, 3.MD.7.b
Oklahoma 3.GM.2.2
Oregon 3.GM.C.7
Pennsylvania CC.2.4.3.A.5
Rhode Island 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
South Dakota 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Tennessee 3.MD.C.7.a, 3.MD.C.7.b
Texas 111.5.b.6.C
Utah 3.MD.7.a, 3.MD.7.b
Vermont 3.MD.C.7
Washington 3.MD.C.7
West Virginia M.3.24
Wisconsin M.3.MD.C.7
Wyoming 3.MD.7a, 3.MDP.7.A, 3.MD.7b, 3.MDP.7.B

Area is rows times columns