Racing Around Shapes: Discovering Perimeter!

Mathematics Grades 4th Grade 6:12 Video
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Lesson Description

Join us on a race around different shapes to learn about perimeter! This lesson teaches you how to find the distance around triangles, squares, and rectangles by adding up the lengths of their sides.

Video Resource

Perimeter for Kids | Math Lesson Video

Homeschool Pop

Duration: 6:12
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Perimeter is the distance around a shape.
  • Perimeter is found by adding the lengths of all the sides of a shape.
  • Different shapes (triangle, square, rectangle) have different perimeters.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define perimeter as the distance around a shape.
  • Students will be able to calculate the perimeter of triangles, squares, and rectangles.
  • Students will be able to apply the concept of perimeter to solve real-world problems.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by engaging students with the video's opening scenario of a race car track. Ask students if they've ever wondered how far it is around a track or a playground. Introduce the term 'perimeter' as the distance around a shape.
  • Triangle Perimeter (10 mins)
    Watch the section of the video that explains how to find the perimeter of a triangle. Reinforce the concept of adding all three sides. Work through additional triangle examples with varying side lengths.
  • Square Perimeter (10 mins)
    Watch the section of the video explaining square perimeters. Emphasize that all sides of a square are equal. Discuss how multiplication can be used as a shortcut when all sides are the same length. (e.g., 4 x side length).
  • Rectangle Perimeter (10 mins)
    Watch the rectangle perimeter segment. Explain that rectangles have two pairs of equal sides. Work through additional examples, highlighting the need to add all four sides, even if only two side lengths are explicitly given.
  • Real-World Applications (10 mins)
    Discuss real-world applications of perimeter, such as fencing a garden, framing a picture, or putting up holiday lights. Present word problems that require students to calculate perimeter to solve.
  • Wrap-up and Assessment (5 mins)
    Review the definition of perimeter and the steps to calculate it for different shapes. Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess student understanding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Scavenger Hunt
    Have students find objects in the classroom or at home that are triangles, squares, and rectangles. They should measure the sides of these objects (using rulers or tape measures) and calculate their perimeters.
  • Perimeter Puzzles
    Provide students with puzzles where they are given the perimeter of a shape and some of the side lengths, and they need to figure out the missing side lengths.

Discussion Questions

  • What is perimeter?
  • How do you find the perimeter of a shape?
  • Can you think of a time when you might need to know the perimeter of something?

Skills Developed

  • Measurement
  • Addition
  • Problem-solving
  • Critical thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is perimeter?

Correct Answer: The distance around a shape.

Question 2:

How do you find the perimeter of a shape?

Correct Answer: Add all the sides.

Question 3:

A triangle has sides that are 5 cm, 7 cm, and 8 cm long. What is its perimeter?

Correct Answer: 20 cm

Question 4:

A square has sides that are 3 inches long. What is its perimeter?

Correct Answer: 12 inches

Question 5:

A rectangle has sides that are 2 meters and 4 meters long. What is its perimeter?

Correct Answer: 12 meters

Question 6:

If a shape has 5 equal sides that are each 2 cm long, what is the perimeter?

Correct Answer: 10 cm

Question 7:

What shape only has 3 sides?

Correct Answer: Triangle

Question 8:

If the perimeter of a square is 16 inches, how long is each side?

Correct Answer: 4 inches

Question 9:

Which of the following can be measured using perimeter?

Correct Answer: The distance around a garden

Question 10:

What unit is used in the Homeschool Pop video to measure the perimeter of a triangle?

Correct Answer: Centimeters

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The distance around a shape is called the ___________.

Correct Answer: perimeter

Question 2:

To find the perimeter, you need to ________ all the sides of a shape.

Correct Answer: add

Question 3:

A square has four sides that are all the same ___________.

Correct Answer: length

Question 4:

A rectangle has two long sides and two _______ sides.

Correct Answer: short

Question 5:

If each side of a triangle is 6 cm, then the perimeter is _______ cm.

Correct Answer: 18

Question 6:

A ______ has four sides, where two of the sides are shorter than the other two sides.

Correct Answer: rectangle

Question 7:

The Homeschool Pop video features a race car driving around an ______.

Correct Answer: oval

Question 8:

To find the perimeter of a tablet, you must measure each ______.

Correct Answer: side

Question 9:

The perimeter of a shape is like a _______ to find!

Correct Answer: game

Question 10:

The abbrevation 'yd' stands for the distance of a _______.

Correct Answer: yard

Educational Standards

4.GM.2:Recognize and measure attributes in real-world and mathematical situations using various tools. 4.GM.2.4:Choose an appropriate instrument to measure the length of an object to the nearest whole centimeter or quarter inch. 4.N.2:Solve real-world and mathematical problems using multiplication and division. 4.N.2.4:Apply and analyze models to solve multi-step problems requiring the use of addition, subtraction, and multiplication of multi-digit whole numbers. Use various strategies, including the relationship between operations, the use of appropriate technology, and the context of the problem to assess the reasonableness of results.

Teaching Materials

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