What is Perimeter?
Perimeter is the distance around a shape!
Imagine walking all the way around your backyard - that's like finding its perimeter. We add up all the
sides to find the total distance around any shape.
How to Solve Perimeter Problems
1️⃣ Find all the sides of the shape
2️⃣ Add all the side lengths together
3️⃣ Label your answer with units (like cm or m)
Let's Solve Some Problems!
Problem 1: The Playground Fence
Tommy's rectangular playground is 12 meters long and 8 meters wide. How much fencing does he need to go all around it?
We add all four sides: 12 + 8 + 12 + 8 = 40 meters of fencing needed!
Or we can use the formula: (2 × length) + (2 × width) = (2 × 12) + (2 × 8) = 24 + 16 = 40 meters
Problem 2: The Cookie Table
Sarah is putting a ribbon around her square cookie tray for the bake sale. Each side is 15 cm long. How much ribbon does she need?
Since all sides are equal in a square: 15 + 15 + 15 + 15 = 60 cm of ribbon needed!
Or we can multiply: 4 × side length = 4 × 15 = 60 cm
Parent Tips 🌟
- Make it real: Measure perimeters around your home - tables, rugs, or even your child's bed!
- Sidewalk chalk math: Draw shapes outside and have your child walk the perimeter while counting steps.
- Lego learning: Build shapes with Lego bricks and count the studs around the edges to find perimeter.