Area and perimeter

What they’re learning

Your child is strengthening the distinction between perimeter and area and using measurements to solve practical problems.

Explain it to my child

Perimeter is the fence around a yard; area is the grass inside it.

Try it together

Measure a tabletop, rug, or rectangular room area. Calculate its perimeter and area. Ask what would change if one side became longer while the other stayed the same.

Practice

1. Rectangle 8 m by 3 m: perimeter?
2. Same rectangle: area?
3. A square has side 5 cm. Area?
4. A rectangle has area 24 cm² and width 4 cm. Length?
5. Which measurement would help buy baseboard: area or perimeter?

Check understanding

• Can your child choose whether a situation needs perimeter or area?
• Do they use linear units for perimeter and square units for area?