teaching resource

Perimeter of Composite Shapes Interactive Activity

Updated: 17 Nov 2023

Get students to answer perimeter questions with this interactive digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

Editable: PowerPoint, Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
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

Perimeter of Composite Shapes Interactive Activity

Updated: 17 Nov 2023

Get students to answer perimeter questions with this interactive digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

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

Get students to answer perimeter questions with this interactive digital resource, perfect for lesson introductions and wrap-ups.

Digital Perimeter Examples for Middle Primary

Teachers! Don’t reach for another perimeter worksheet! While worksheets certainly have a place and serve a purpose in the classroom, why not vary your lesson delivery with an engaging digital resource? This interactive activity is chock-full of perimeter questions that are sure to keep your students on-task for the duration of your maths lesson!

This ocean-themed interactive activity contains a variety of perimeter questions for students to practise calculating the perimeter of composite shapes. There are nine slides to work through, each containing a wide variety of perimeter examples for students to engage with. Some of the activities include:

Drag the coral over the fish displaying the correct perimeter.
Drag the coral over the fish displaying the correct missing side length.
Drag the fish over the shape with the perimeter that matches the number in the pearl.
Use the perimeters to colour the mystery picture.
Use the perimeters to colour a path through the maze.
Match the correct perimeter to its shape.
Match the correct shape to its missing side length.

This resource downloads as either a Microsoft PowerPoint or an editable Google Slides file. A printable PDF containing the answers is also available via a separate dropdown.

This resource makes a great revision activity once your students have already had some experience finding the perimeter of composite shapes. 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 able to answer the perimeter questions.

How to Use These Perimeter Questions

Digital games are a fabulous resource when it comes to reviewing key content with your students.

Not sure how to implement this digital game in your classroom? Try this procedure:

Read the Question – Project the slide on your interactive whiteboard. Have a student read the question allowed.
Discuss Possible Strategies – Have your students suggest approaches as to how to work out the answer to the question.
Shared or Individual Calculations – When it comes to working out the answer, there are a few options you might like to implement. You could have the students do the calculations themselves on dry erase boards or in their notebooks, either individually or in small groups. Alternatively, you do this collaboratively as a class and write the necessary calculations on the whiteboard.
Entering the Answer – Choose a student to come to your computer to enter the answer into the digital resource.

Start Exploring Perimeter Examples

Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access your preferred version of this resource. Please be aware that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file and save it to your personal drive before accessing it.

Be sure to work with this presentation in Edit mode as the draggable features will not work in Presentation mode.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, 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!

[resource:5024882] [resource:5024822] [resource:5024749]

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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