Measure and calculate the perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes…
Measure and calculate the perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes in centimetres and metres, and calculate and compare the area of rectangles (including squares) using square centimetres and square metres (an adjacent-year match).
The National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3 outcome (Measurement) for Year 5 says: “Measure and calculate the perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes in centimetres and metres, and calculate and compare the area of rectangles (including squares) using square centimetres and square metres (an adjacent-year match).” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3.
Fence It, Fill It: Area and Perimeter Grades 3–4 · partly supports this outcome
Which mat is really the biggest? Does the same fence always hold the same garden? Can the same rug need more edging? Four lessons where students tile, stretch rope and chalk the schoolyard to find out that area and perimeter measure different things.
- Which mat is the biggest? 50–60 min
Teams cover three taped mats with sticky notes and find that the long, thin mat that looks biggest is the same size as a small square one. Students explain area as the number of unit squares that cover a shape, and find it faster by multiplying rows by columns.
- How much turf for an L-shaped playground? 50–60 min
Teams chalk a real L-shaped playground in the schoolyard, split it into rectangles to find its area, and discover that cutting a corner off a rectangle takes away area but leaves the perimeter exactly the same. Then they design their own playground to a set of criteria.
More England Year 5 math outcomes we teach
Every unit matched to England's curriculum · All places and curricula
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