Use this Year 5 Estimate Area of Irregular Shapes Reasoning and Problem Solving resource to provide your class with more experience of estimating the area of irregular shapes by counting squares.

There are two reasoning questions that will help them develop a careful eye when checking their work. Each question requires them to estimate area by counting full squares, half squares and parts of squares to arrive at a final estimate. Teach them to pay careful attention to the size of each square in order to estimate accurately.

The problem solving question asks them to draw two different irregular shapes with the same area on a squared grid. Let them use their imaginations to complete this task in two separate contexts.

The questions on this worksheet are spread across two pages to give plenty of room to work. An answer sheet is provided on a third sheet to help busy teachers and pupils who are marking their own work.

A varied fluency resource is also available for this small step.