1. **Stating the problem:** Determine the area of the first figure, which is a 3×3 square grid where each small square represents 1 square meter. 2. **Formula used:** The area $A$ of a rectangle or square is given by: $$A = L \times W$$ where $L$ is the length and $W$ is the width. 3. **Applying the formula:** For the 3×3 grid, the length and width are both 3 meters. $$A = 3 \times 3$$ 4. **Calculating:** $$A = 9$$ 5. **Explanation:** Since each small square is 1 square meter, counting all 9 squares gives the total area as 9 square meters. **Final answer:** The area of the first figure is $9$ square meters.