Sizing Them Up

We have been looking at area this week – can you use what you have learned to solve the problem below?

Arrange these shapes in order of size. Put the smallest first.

Once you’ve had a chance to think about it, see below to see how four different pupils began working on the task.

Kelsey said:”I printed the shapes and then measured the length of each shape at the longest point.” 

Louise and Rosie said:”We observed the area of each and tried to rearrange the shapes in our heads to compare them.” 

Thomas said:”I cut out the shapes then cut each up into little pieces and laid them on top of each other to see which was bigger. I also put them on a grid with small squares and counted the number of squares for each.” 

Can you take each of these starting ideas and develop it into a solution?