Context

Hello, dear students! Today we are going to learn about a very interesting part of mathematics, the Area of Plane Figures: Unit Squares. But what are these squares and how do they help us understand mathematics? Let's find out!

You must have heard about the concept of area, right? The area is the measure of how much space a figure occupies. And when we talk about plane figures, such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles, the area is a very important measure for us to understand the world around us.

Now, imagine we have a plane figure, let's say a square, and we want to find its area. How can we do that? This is where the unit squares come in. Unit squares are small squares, all the same size, that we use to fill the figure we want to measure the area of.

Introduction

Now that we know what unit squares are, we can start to understand how they help us calculate the area of a figure. Let's see a simple example: a square with a side of 3.

If we take unit squares with a side of 1 and start filling the square with a side of 3, we will realize that nine unit squares are needed to fill it completely. This means that the area of the square with a side of 3 is 9 square units. Makes sense, right?

But what if the side of the square were 4? Well, in that case, sixteen unit squares would be needed to fill it completely, giving us an area of 16 square units. Do you notice a pattern? The area of a square is always the side squared!

Now, you must be wondering: why is this important? Well, understanding the concept of area helps us solve everyday problems, such as calculating the amount of floor tiles we need to cover the floor of a room, or the amount of paint to paint a wall. In addition, the area is also very important in other areas of mathematics, such as geometry and algebra.

So, are you ready to become masters in the art of calculating the area of squares? Let's do this!

Practical Activity: "Magic Squares"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is for students to understand and practice the calculation of areas of plane figures, more specifically, squares. In addition, the activity aims to develop skills such as teamwork, time management, logical thinking, creativity, and communication.

Project Description

Students, in groups of 3 to 5, will create a "Magic Square". This square will be formed by small unit squares and each group will have to calculate the total area of their magic square.

Required Materials

• Graph paper (or cardboard and ruler)
• Colored pencils or markers
• Eraser (for any corrections)
• Paper cards (to write down the area of the squares)

Step by Step

1. Group Formation: Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.

2. Creation of the Magic Square: Each group will draw a magic square on the graph paper. Remember, the magic square must be formed by small unit squares.

3. Area Calculation: After drawing the magic square, the groups must count how many unit squares were used. This quantity is the area of the magic square. Write down this value on a paper card.

4. Decoration of the Magic Square: Now is the time to unleash creativity! Using colored pencils or markers, the groups must color the magic square.

5. Presentation: Each group will present their magic square to the class. In the presentation, they must explain how they calculated the area and how many unit squares were used.

Delivery Format

Each group must submit the paper card where they wrote down the area of their magic square, in addition to the colored drawing of the square. Furthermore, each student must write a short text (3 to 5 sentences) describing what they learned about calculating the area of squares.

Important Reminder: The activity must be done collaboratively, with all group members actively participating. And, of course, have fun learning mathematics!