Partition a Rectangle into Rows and Columns of Squares

Students divide rectangles into equal-sized squares arranged in rows and columns. Students count the total number of squares using the structure of the array, building a foundation for understanding area and multiplication.

Try three of them

Real questions from this skill, graded here. No account, and nothing is saved.

Grade 2 · Partitioning Shapes · question 1 of 3

0 of 12

12 rungs. A star at the top.

Kofi sets out square mats in the park. How many mats are there in all?

Your answer:

How it is taught

0:00 of 2:46

Rows go across.

Columns go down.

Read it: Rows of squares

This rectangle has 3 rows of 4 squares. Count a row, then on by a row at a time: 4, 8, 12. So 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.

Count the squares in one row.
Count on by that many for each row.
The last number is how many squares in all.

Every row has the same number of squares, so you can add a row at a time.

The rows and columns cut the rectangle into same-size squares.

4 + 4 + 4 is a quick way to write 3 rows of 4.

Count the squares in a row, then count on by a row at a time.

Adding the rows and the columns: 3 + 4 = 7.

Count squares, not rows: 4, 8, 12. There are 12 squares.

2 + 2 = ___ — 4. 2 rows of 2: 2, 4.

4 columns × 3 rows = 12 squares

Today we'll split a rectangle into equal-sized squares, like tiles on a floor.

Here's our rectangle. Let's turn it into a tile pattern.

Grade 2 · Splitting a rectangle into equal squares

We draw a line straight down to split it.

Now another line down.

And one more line — that gives us four equal columns.

Let's count the columns: one, two, three, four.

Now we draw a line straight across.

And one more line across — now we have three rows.

Count the rows: one, two, three.

Each tile is the same size. Let's count all the squares: one, two, three… all the way to twelve.

Three rows of four squares makes twelve equal squares. Nice work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal: 1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now: Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

More of the library

Every skill has a page

Practise this skill free

14 days of every skill, practice packets, Fluency sheets and up to four students. No card.

Start free