Perimeter and Area of Rectangles

Help students learn to find the perimeter and area of rectangles by using the resources we have created.  Down below you will also find links to some of our favorite resources and songs we have found.

Perimeter & Area Anchor Chart   Help students remember the difference between perimeter and area with this visual.

Perimeter & Area Card Sort   Students sort the cards into the correct categories.  This can be used as an independent practice activity, center activity or as an assessment.  We have include l+w+l+w and s+s+s+s for perimeter.  You may choose to keep both cards in the sort or use only the one you are teaching your children.

Perimeter & Area Task Cards  This set of 18 cards contains problems for finding the perimeter and area of rectangles.  Includes a recording page.

We also think the idea of using Legos to help kids understand and practice this concept is a great idea.  What kid doesn’t love Legos?  Pull out a tub of Legos and give directions such as these:

• Make a rectangle with an area of 16 dots.
• Make a square that has a perimeter of 12 dots.
• A rectangle has a perimeter of 22 dots, the width is 5.  What is the length?  What would the area of that shape be?

We’ve created a couple of printables to use as center work after you have introduced the idea.

Lego Math 1  Students use the given dimensions to create a rectangle.  Students then draw a picture of what they created on their paper.  This page has four problems.

Lego Math 2  At a center, you can have students form questions to ask each other using the Legos.  This page gives students space to create two of their own problems.  They will then trade and have a partner solve the problem they created.  If you have iPads or other tablets in your room, you can even have students take pictures of their creations.

We think it is SO important to introduce this concept with manipulatives.  The items we designed are to reinforce the idea once it has been taught.  We found this great collection of hands-on activities from Scholastic.  10 Hands-On Strategies for Teaching Area and Perimeter.

We also love the idea of using music to help the formulas stick in students’ heads.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Math Rocks!  Perimeter & Area   Perimeter & area song on YouTube that explains how to find the perimeter and area of objects along with giving a few real world examples of when the skills are used.  A little over 3 minutes.

Perimeter & Area Rap  A class of students rapping to help your students learn the formulas.  Not as clear as the first video because it’s children rapping but it’s catchy and we think your students will get into it.  Maybe you can record your own version!

Area, Perimeter & Volume Songs  Teach students these songs to help them remember the formulas.

Want another set of task cards to challenge your students?  Check out our other set here: Area & Perimeter Task Cards

These resources are designed to help students meet:  CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.A.3  Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems. For example, find the width of a rectangular room given the area of the flooring and the length, by viewing the area formula as a multiplication equation with an unknown factor.

Have other ideas for helping students find the perimeter and area of rectangles?  Please share below!