Measuring Area using _____ squared

When someone tells you the area is 500 square feet, what does that actually mean?  What does the actually look like?

Today, in 5DC we didn't look at SQUARE FEET, nor did we look at SQUARE METERS.  We looked at SQUARE CHUPBABS, SQUARE JASONS, SQUARE CHIPS and a variety of units other students created.  After determining the area of our desks using chalk and SQUARE JASONs, etc, students were asked to go home and discuss it with their parents or an adult at home.

Even parents were given something to do this weekend.