Calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes
I can calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes.
Calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes
I can calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Use addition and subtraction to calculate missing side lengths in compound rectilinear shapes.
- Identify two different lengths which total another side length in a compound rectilinear shape.
- Use knowledge of the area of a rectangle to calculate the area of shapes made from two rectangles.
Keywords
Compound - A shape made up of two or more other shapes is known as compound.
Rectilinear - A shape where all angles composed of right angles is called a rectilinear shape.
Common misconception
Calculating the length of a side when the overall dimension and part dimensions are known and understanding when a part of the overall dimension is needed to calculate part of the area.
Look at shapes with missing dimensions and discussing that the overall length and width of a compound rectilinear shape is the total of the shorter side lengths in a particular direction. This allows missing or overall dimensions to be calculated.
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Calculate the area of compound rectilinear shapes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Link area of rectangles to multiplication unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
is a rectilinear shape.
is a compound shape.




Exit quiz
6 Questions
has four right angles.
is made up of two or more shapes.
has angles that are all right angles.
is made up of two or more rectangles.




