New
New
Year 6
Any parallelogram can be decomposed and the parts rearranged to form a rectangular parallelogram
I can explain how any parallelogram can be decomposed and the parts rearranged to form a rectangular parallelogram.
New
New
Year 6
Any parallelogram can be decomposed and the parts rearranged to form a rectangular parallelogram
I can explain how any parallelogram can be decomposed and the parts rearranged to form a rectangular parallelogram.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The area of a parallelogram is equal to the area of the rectangle created by rearranging the parts.
- A parallelogram can be decomposed into a rectangle and 2 identical triangles.
- Rearranging the parts of a parallelogram helps to calculate the area.
Keywords
Parallelogram - A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel and equal sides.
Common misconception
Pupils who have learned about parallelograms often have a fixed idea of what they look like and do not realise that squares and other kinds of rectangles are also parallelograms.
The lesson defines parallelograms, giving three criteria, including parallel sides and equal pairs of opposite angles. Reinforce with pupils that these match the set criteria.
It is useful for children to practically create parallelograms in the lesson. Number rods are suggested as a manipulative for this but equal-length pieces of straw or matchsticks could work as an alternative.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which of these statements is true of a rectangle?
All four sides are different lengths.
Q2.
Which of these statements is true of a square?
All four sides are different lengths.
Q3.
A parallelogram has sides.
Q4.
Which of the shapes is a parallelogram?
Q5.
Which of the statements is true of all parallelograms?
All of the interior angles are always different to each other.
All of the interior angles are always the same as each other.
Q6.
Which of these statements describe shapes a and b?
They have a different area.
They are the same polygon.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The number rods have been used to make a parallelogram. Which of the statements is true?
The shape cannot be turned into a rectangular parallelogram.
The shape is already a rectangular parallelogram.
Q2.
A shape has been made from number rods. Which of the statements is true?
The shape is not a rectangular parallelogram.
Q3.
The triangles have been cut off the ends of a parallelogram and repositioned. Which of the statements is true?
A rectangular parallelogram has been formed.
A new non-rectangular parallelogram has been formed.
Q4.
The parallelogram is cut along the marked line. Complete. The parallelogram has been decomposed into a triangle and a .
Q5.
Which of these statements are true? A parallelogram….
cannot be turned into a rectangle, unless it is already one.
Q6.
Which of these statements is true?
A parallelogram and a rectangular parallelogram cannot have the same area.
Adding a triangle to a parallelogram can give it the same area as a rectangle.