Perimeter and Area - Perimeter on a Grid - Worksheet

The educational resource focuses on teaching Year 6 students how to measure and calculate the perimeter of rectilinear shapes, including squares, using centimetre and metre units. To facilitate this learning, the resource provides differentiated worksheets, teaching slides, and 1cm squared paper. The key vocabulary for the lesson includes terms such as 'perimeter', 'rectilinear shapes', and 'length'. Students are encouraged to calculate the perimeter by counting the squares along the edges of rectilinear shapes, which are shapes with sides meeting at right angles, on the grid paper. They are instructed to label the lengths of each side and tally them to determine the total perimeter. Posing questions such as the definition of perimeter, the meaning of 'rectilinear', and hypothetical measurements of rectangle sides, the resource aims to deepen understanding and provoke critical thinking.

As part of the lesson's progression, students tackle increasingly complex rectilinear shapes to calculate their perimeters. They are also challenged with creative tasks, such as designing different shapes with specified perimeter conditions, like having the same perimeter, one that is longer by a certain measurement, or double the length. For reasoning and problem-solving, students explore patio designs using 1m square paving stones, determining which arrangement would yield the shortest or longest perimeter. This task encourages them to apply their knowledge practically, using squared paper to visualise their designs. The answers section provides solutions for the perimeters of various rectilinear shapes and confirms the most efficient patio designs for the shortest and longest perimeters, enhancing the resource's effectiveness as a teaching aid.