Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares and count to find the total number of them.
Student language:
About the Math, Learning Targets, and Rigor
This standard calls for students to partition a rectangle into squares (or square-like regions) and then determine the total number of squares. This relates to the standard 2.OA.4 where students are arranging objects in an array of rows and columns.
This standard is also a precursor to learning about the area of a rectangle (See 3.MD.5 and 3.MD.6).
Example
Split the rectangle into 3 rows and 4 columns. How many small squares did you make?
An example so students can discover how this standard builds into multiplication.