How do you explain when to use square feet in math?

Answer 1

"Square feet" describes the size of a piece of surface that's being covered, like the size of a floor

covered by carpet, or a yard covered by grass, or a wall covered by paint.

You don't use square feet to describe a length or a distance, like a piece of rope, a broom handle,

or a trip to the store. Those use "feet".

You don't use square feet to describe how much something can hold, like a barrel, a bottle,

a shopping bag, or a ballon when it's blown up. Those use "cubic feet".