ALEX Learning Activity

  

Perimeter Introduction Activity

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Stephanie Carver
System:Cullman City
School:Cullman City Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2804
Title:
Perimeter Introduction Activity
Digital Tool/Resource:
Perimeter Song
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This is an introductory activity for teaching perimeter. First, students will watch a perimeter song video. Then, they will work with manipulatives to build a garden (array) and discuss what the measurement would be if a ladybug walked around the edge of the garden. This gives the students an opportunity to explore the perimeter using concrete materials. 
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 3
25. Solve real-world problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths and finding an unknown side length of rectangles.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Measure to find the perimeter of shapes.
  • Given a figure, determine the perimeter of the figure.
  • Given a figure with a missing side length and a given perimeter, determine the missing side length.
  • Solve real-world problems involving perimeters of polygons.
  • Use a multiplication expression to find perimeter of a polygon when all side measures of the polygon are equal.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Attribute
  • Dimension
  • Perimeter
  • Polygon
  • Two-dimensional
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Measurable attributes of objects, specifically perimeter.
  • Strategies for modeling measurement problems involving perimeter.
  • Strategies for representing and computing perimeter.
Skills:
The Students are able to:
  • Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons.
  • Find the perimeter of a figure given the side lengths.
  • Find an unknown side length of a polygon given the perimeter and one missing side length.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • Perimeter is measured in length units and is the distance around a two-dimensional figure.
  • If all the sides of a polygon are equal, then the perimeter can be determined by multiplying one side length by the total number of sides.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.3.25.1: Define perimeter.
M.3.25.2: Recall the formula for perimeter (P= L+L+W+W or P=2L + 2W).
M.3.25.3: Recall basic addition and multiplication facts.
M. 3.23.4: Build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes.
M.3.25.4: Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
M.3.25.5: Describe measurable attributes of objects such as length or weight.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Recall doubles addition facts.
  • Model written method for composing equations.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.3.20 Find the area of a given shape using arrays (unit cubes and tiles) in relationship to multiplication. Limit units to 25.

Learning Objectives:

The students will solve a real-world problem involving the perimeter of a polygon. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

  1. The teacher will show the "Perimeter Song" video to the class.

  2. After the video, the students will turn and talk with their classmates to answer the following: According to the video, what is perimeter? How do we calculate it?

  3. After the turn and talk, the teacher will give each student color tiles and a cap eraser.

  4. The teacher will then ask the students to build a 4 x 6 garden (array). The teacher will tell the students that the cap eraser is a ladybug. (Any type of small item can be used in place of a cap eraser.)

  5. The teacher will ask the students to pretend that the ladybug walks along the garden fence. The teacher will instruct the students to move the cap eraser around the edges of the array. This will help the students make the connection that perimeter is the measurement around a polygon.

  6. Next, the teacher will ask the students, "What is the total measurement around the garden that the ladybug would travel?"

  7. Finally, the teacher will lead a class discussion on how perimeter is the measurement around a polygon. It would also be good to discuss the difference between perimeter and area at this point if the students are already familiar with the area. 
Assessment Strategies:

The student responses during the class discussion will be used as a formative assessment. 
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need to provide color tiles and a small item, such as a cap eraser, for each student. 

The teacher will make sure the video can be displayed during the activity. 
Variation Tips (optional):
 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This activity can stand alone or be used as a Before/Engage activity for the following learning activities:

 

Perimeters of Pools (During activity)

Finding the Unknown Side of Safety Signs (After activity)
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: perimeter, polygon