• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Area of parallelograms using the perpendicular height; Area of triangles). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A parallelogram has base 18 cm and perpendicular height 12 cm. Find its area in cm². → 216Prompt: Cut off a triangle from one end and move it to the other: you get a rectangle.
2. A parallelogram has area 120 cm² and base 10 cm. What is its perpendicular height, in cm? → 12Prompt: Area = base × height, so height = area ÷ base.
3. A parallelogram has base 16 cm and perpendicular height 14 cm. Find its area in cm². → 224Prompt: Cut off a triangle from one end and move it to the other: you get a rectangle.

• Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
• Share the objective: Area of trapezoids (trapeziums). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: A trapezoid (trapezium) has parallel sides 7 m and 17 m, and height 8 m. Find its area in m².
• Step 1: (7 + 17) ÷ 2 = 12
• Step 2: 12 × 8 = 96 m²
• Answer: 96
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. A trapezoid (trapezium) has parallel sides 7 cm and 15 cm, and height 6 cm. Find its area in cm². → 66Prompt: Area = (a + b) ÷ 2 × h: the average of the parallel sides times the height.
2. A trapezoid has area 99 cm² and parallel sides 4 cm and 14 cm. What is its height, in cm? → 11Prompt: Find the average of the parallel sides first.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. A trapezoid (trapezium) has parallel sides 4 m and 6 m, and height 4 m. Find its area in m². → 20Prompt: Area = (a + b) ÷ 2 × h: the average of the parallel sides times the height.
2. A raised garden bed is a trapezoid with parallel sides 2 m and 6 m, 5 m apart. One bag of compost covers 1 m². How many bags are needed to cover it? (Whole bags only.) → 20Prompt: Find the area of the trapezoid.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.