Perimeter and Area - Perimeter of Rectangles - Starter

In this mathematics activity designed for Year 5 students during the Autumn term, the focus is on calculating the perimeter of rectangles and rectilinear shapes. The 'Fluent in Four' revision section provides a series of quick-fire questions to warm up the students' arithmetic skills. For example, students are asked to perform simple multiplications, such as 3 times 7, and to work with money by writing amounts in both pounds and pence before comparing them using comparison symbols. They are also challenged to calculate half of 90 multiplied by nine, which tests their understanding of the order of operations.

The main exercise involves understanding the concept of perimeter through practical application. Students are presented with a grid where each square measures 1 cm by 1 cm, and they are tasked with finding the perimeter of a given rectilinear shape. The activity includes a visual representation of the shape with measurements provided in various units such as metres, millimetres, and centimetres, emphasising the importance of unit conversion. The shapes are not drawn to scale, requiring students to rely on the numerical data rather than visual estimation. Additionally, the exercise reinforces the comparison of monetary values, as students are asked to compare different amounts in pounds and pence, fostering their numerical reasoning skills in a real-world context.