Area with Unit Squares Board Games: 3rd Grade

Math games · Grades 2–3 · PDF, 64 pages · Free

Twenty partner board games that build the idea behind area: how many unit squares cover a shape, with no gaps and no overlaps. Students count, compare and build figures from rectangles to L-shapes, T-shapes and stair steps, and the partner checks every answer with the key, so both players stay thinking.

There are five game types. Roll & Claim (games 1 to 10) has students roll a die, find the area of a figure in that column and claim four in a row. Spin & Cover (11 to 13) uses a paper clip spinner with an area rule and covers any figure that matches. In Odd One Out (14 to 16), two figures share an area and students find the one that doesn't. Race to the Crate (17 and 18) is a path game where students find the area, or how many squares finish a rectangle. Build It (19 and 20) has students roll and shade grid squares to build a shape that fits a clue.

A teacher guide and an I Can poster for 3.MD.C.5 and 3.MD.C.6 (in color and black and white) start the pack, with prep tips for modeling how to count each square once.

What's included

• Teacher guide: how each game type works, what you need, prep tips and the list of all 20 games
• Area I Can poster for 3.MD.C.5 and 3.MD.C.6, in color and black and white
• 20 partner game boards in color
• The same 20 boards in black and white for easy printing
• 20 answer key pages, one for every game
• Five game types: Roll & Claim, Spin & Cover, Odd One Out, Race to the Crate and Build It

How teachers use it

• Math centers and stations
• Partner review before an area test
• Small-group intervention
• Early finishers
• Take-home practice

Topics: math, intervention, rti, mtss, sped, centers, stations, elementary, grade, 2, 3, free