Area of a Triangle Teaching Resources
Make finding the area of a triangle more engaging this school year with digital games, printable activities and worksheets — all created by teachers for teachers like you!
This collection of resources is all aligned with the Common Core math curriculum, and each activity has undergone a careful review by a member of the Teach Starter math team to ensure it's ready for your lesson plans and your students!
Whether you're new to teaching kids about the area of a triangle or just need a refresher on the basics, our teacher team has you covered! Read on for a quick primer, including a look at how to find the area of a triangle and what makes this polygon different from other shapes.
What Is the Area of a Triangle? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If you're building a lesson plan about triangles and area, one would hope your students already have the concept of measuring area down pat. Then again, it doesn't hurt to have an explanation at hand to introduce your lesson. So let's start there!
The area of a triangle is fundamentally the same as other shapes — it's a measurement of the amount of space enclosed by the shape's boundary.
What makes the area of a triangle different, however, is this skill can help you as you try to find the area of irregular shapes!
How to Find the Area of a Triangle — Formulas for Students
When it comes time for your students to calculate the amount of space inside a triangle, they will be using similar calculations to those they've used in the past to measure the area of other shapes. They'll still be making measurements and using their knowledge of multiplication, but there are different formulas involved.
Here is a formula that your student can use:
Base and Height Formula
The most commonly used formula in elementary school, the base and height formula, requires students to measure the base (b) and the height (h) of the triangle (this is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex).
Next, they apply their knowledge of multiplication to calculate the area. The formula can be expressed in the following ways:
- Area = 1/2 × base × height
- A = 0.5 × b × h
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Area of a Triangle Matching Activity for 6th Grade
Calculate the area of triangle figures and match them with their corresponding areas with this match-up activity.
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Interactive Area Puzzle (Triangles)
Set this task for students to find the area of 16 triangles on the board and match the corresponding pieces to reveal a mystery picture.
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Area of a Triangle – Differentiated Math Mazes
Use the area of a triangle formula as you work your way through this set of differentiated math mazes.
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Area of a Triangle – Task Cards for 6th Grade
Sixth graders use multiplication and division skills to determine the area of a triangle with this set of 24 task cards.
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Area of a Triangle – Worksheet
Practice applying math formulas with this area of a triangle worksheet.
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Triangle War - Area of a Triangle Math Game
Practice finding and comparing the area of a triangle with a game of WAR!