teaching resource

Finding the Perimeter Interactive Activity

Updated: 30 Oct 2023

Get students finding the perimeter of shapes with this self-checking digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

Editable: Google Slides, PowerPoint
Pages: 1 Page
Years: 4 - 5

Curriculum

VC2M4M02

Recognise ways of measuring and approximating the perimeter and area of shapes and enclosed spaces, using appropriate formal and informal units <ul> <li>recognising that perimeter is the sum of the lengths that form the boundary of a shape or enclosed space; choosing suitable units from a range of objects to measure around the boundary of a shape such as a garden bed; comparing the results to say which unit was an appropriate choice for the context; and using a piece of string or rope to measure the perimeter of irregular shapes and enclosed spaces, including those that have curved sections</li> <li>creating a range of rectangles representing ‘paddocks’ on grid paper and establishing different methods of working out the length of the boundary fences; and explaining that the more efficient methods involve adding the side lengths rather than counting squares</li> <li>recognising that area is the space enclosed by the boundary of a shape or the surface of an object; measuring and comparing the area of shapes using an array of paper tiles or mosaic squares, including part units to fill gaps at the edge of the shapes; and comparing the total areas by combining the fractional parts to make whole units</li> <li>demonstrating how to use one unit repeatedly to measure the area of a shape (for example, using one paper square to measure and compare the area of a rectangle and a triangle) and recording and explaining how they used part units to give a more accurate measure, and why they needed to ensure there were no gaps or overlaps</li> <li>investigating the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ranger groups and other groups measure areas of land to make decisions about fire burns to care for Country/Place</li> </ul>
VC2M5M02

Solve practical problems involving the perimeter and area of regular and irregular shapes using appropriate metric units <ul> <li>investigating problem situations involving perimeter, for example, ‘How many metres of fencing are required around a paddock, or around a festival event?’</li> <li>using efficient ways to calculate the perimeters of rectangles, such as adding the length and width together and doubling the result</li> <li>solving measurement problems such as ‘How much carpet would be needed to cover the entire floor of the classroom?’, using square metre templates to directly measure the floor space</li> <li>creating a model of a permaculture garden, dividing the area up to provide the most efficient use of space for gardens and walkways, labelling the measure of each area, and calculating the amount of resources needed, for example, compost to cover the vegetable garden</li> <li>using a physical geoboard or a virtual geoboard app to recognise the relationship between area and perimeter and solve problems; for example, investigating what is the largest and what is the smallest area that has the same perimeter</li> <li>exploring the designs of fishing nets and dwellings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, investigating the perimeter, area and purpose of the shapes within the designs</li> </ul>

teaching resource

Finding the Perimeter Interactive Activity

Updated: 30 Oct 2023

Get students finding the perimeter of shapes with this self-checking digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

Editable: Google Slides, PowerPoint
Pages: 1 Page
Years: 4 - 5

Get students finding the perimeter of shapes with this self-checking digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

Practise Finding the Perimeter of Shapes

If you’re looking for a digital resource to give your students practise finding the perimeter of shapes, then you’ve come to the right place! This digital maths activity has been designed by our dedicated teacher team to help your students practise finding the perimeter of a variety of single shapes, without the fuss of photocopying mountains of worksheets!

Each slide in this perimeter resource contains a shape. Students are required to find the perimeter of the shape, then choose the correct answer from the options provided. Some slides include three measurements to choose from, while others require the students to choose ‘true’ or ‘false’ based on the information in the question.

If students choose the incorrect answer, they are directed to a ‘Try again’ slide, which allows them to return to the previous question for another attempt. If the student chooses the correct answer, they are directed to a ‘That is correct’ slide and progress to the next question. The resource includes 11 questions in total.

The shapes included in this resource are rectangles, triangles, squares and a trapezium.

This resource makes a great revision activity once your students have already had some experience finding the perimeter of shapes such as rectangles, squares and triangles. Use it as a warm-up at the beginning of your maths lesson, or as a review lesson at the end to see how well your students are grasping the concept of finding the perimeter of shapes.

More Activities to Find the Perimeter of a Shape

Are you looking for ways to extend this perimeter activity? Check out these great suggestions:

What Could It Be? – As you complete each question, have the students suggest what each shape could be in the real world. For example, a rectangle with dimensions 20 metres by 15 metres could be the size of a dog exercise enclosure. Thinking about this helps students relate measurement concepts to their practical applications.
Perimeter Word Problems – Choose a slide, then have your students write a word problem that relates to the shape and its measurement. It’s important that the word problem makes sense in a real-work situation… for example, it’s unlikely that a farmer would need to buy fencing for an equilateral triangle with sides 1 metre in length!
Get Them Moving – Get your students even more involved in this perimeter activity by having them use their bodies to indicate which answer they think is correct. For example, they could put their hands on their heads if they think the first option is correct, heads on shoulders for the second option and hands on hips for the third option.

Start Finding the Perimeter of Shapes!

Use the Download button menu to access either the Microsoft PowerPoint or the Google Slides version of this resource. Please note that you will be prompted to save a copy of the resource to your own drive before accessing it.

Be sure to operate the presentation in Slideshow mode to enable the interactive features. Project it onto your screen to work through as a class, or assign it to students for them to work through independently.

This resource was created by Kendall Britnell, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources Targeting Perimeter

Teach Starter has more great resources to save you time when teaching perimeter to your class. Click below for some more curriculum-aligned, teacher-created activities!

teaching resource

Perimeter and Area Dice Game

Use this area and perimeter dice game as a pair activity during your maths lessons on measurement.

teaching resource

Perimeter of 2D Shapes Poster

Use this perimeter anchor chart to teach students how to find the perimeter of shapes such as squares, rectangles, triangles, hexagons and parallelograms.

teaching resource

Interactive Perimeter Puzzle

Calculate and match the perimeters of all 16 shapes on the board to reveal a perimeter puzzle mystery picture.

Curriculum

VC2M4M02

Recognise ways of measuring and approximating the perimeter and area of shapes and enclosed spaces, using appropriate formal and informal units <ul> <li>recognising that perimeter is the sum of the lengths that form the boundary of a shape or enclosed space; choosing suitable units from a range of objects to measure around the boundary of a shape such as a garden bed; comparing the results to say which unit was an appropriate choice for the context; and using a piece of string or rope to measure the perimeter of irregular shapes and enclosed spaces, including those that have curved sections</li> <li>creating a range of rectangles representing ‘paddocks’ on grid paper and establishing different methods of working out the length of the boundary fences; and explaining that the more efficient methods involve adding the side lengths rather than counting squares</li> <li>recognising that area is the space enclosed by the boundary of a shape or the surface of an object; measuring and comparing the area of shapes using an array of paper tiles or mosaic squares, including part units to fill gaps at the edge of the shapes; and comparing the total areas by combining the fractional parts to make whole units</li> <li>demonstrating how to use one unit repeatedly to measure the area of a shape (for example, using one paper square to measure and compare the area of a rectangle and a triangle) and recording and explaining how they used part units to give a more accurate measure, and why they needed to ensure there were no gaps or overlaps</li> <li>investigating the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ranger groups and other groups measure areas of land to make decisions about fire burns to care for Country/Place</li> </ul>
VC2M5M02

Solve practical problems involving the perimeter and area of regular and irregular shapes using appropriate metric units <ul> <li>investigating problem situations involving perimeter, for example, ‘How many metres of fencing are required around a paddock, or around a festival event?’</li> <li>using efficient ways to calculate the perimeters of rectangles, such as adding the length and width together and doubling the result</li> <li>solving measurement problems such as ‘How much carpet would be needed to cover the entire floor of the classroom?’, using square metre templates to directly measure the floor space</li> <li>creating a model of a permaculture garden, dividing the area up to provide the most efficient use of space for gardens and walkways, labelling the measure of each area, and calculating the amount of resources needed, for example, compost to cover the vegetable garden</li> <li>using a physical geoboard or a virtual geoboard app to recognise the relationship between area and perimeter and solve problems; for example, investigating what is the largest and what is the smallest area that has the same perimeter</li> <li>exploring the designs of fishing nets and dwellings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, investigating the perimeter, area and purpose of the shapes within the designs</li> </ul>

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