Perimeter Teaching Resources
Explore perimeter worksheets, hands-on activities and more teacher resources created by math teachers for math teachers!
This collection of printable and digital activities is aligned with the Common Core math curriculum, and each resource has been carefully reviewed by a member of our math teacher team to ensure it's ready for your lesson plans and your students.
Are you new to teaching this measurement concept? Or maybe you're just looking for fresh ways to engage your students on the topic? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definition of perimeter and a look at how to find the perimeter of an object.
What Is Perimeter? A Kid-Friendly Definition
When we're introducing any concept for the first time, we know that having a kid-friendly definition on hand can be helpful to start the lesson. Here's a perimeter definition that our teacher team likes to use!
Perimeter is the measurement of the distance around the outside of a shape. If you were to walk all the way around an object, the distance you walked would represent the perimeter of that object.
The perimeter of a shape depends on the lengths of its sides.
How to Find Perimeter of a Shape — A Simple Formula for Students
To find the perimeter of a shape such as a square or triangle, students need to add up the lengths of all its sides.
For example, if you're trying to find the perimeter of a rectangle, you would use the formula:
- Perimeter = Length + Width + Length + Width
If you're trying to find the perimeter of a triangle, the formula is a bit simpler as there are fewer sides! In this case, the formula is:
- Perimeter = Side + Side + Side
