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Year 6

Solve problems involving area and perimeter

I can apply understanding of calculation of area and perimeter of polygons to solve problems.

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New
New
Year 6

Solve problems involving area and perimeter

I can apply understanding of calculation of area and perimeter of polygons to solve problems.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Area and perimeter are calculated from the side lengths of 2D shapes.
  2. Perimeter is measured in units of length.
  3. Area is measured in squared units.

Common misconception

Because area and perimeter are so often discussed alongside each other - as is the case with this lesson - pupils often get the two confused.

By now pupils should be very familiar with area and perimeter, so that they can apply the knowledge to problem solving. However, spend time going over the definitions at the start and ensure pupils have access to visual reminders.

Keywords

  • Area - Area is a measurement of a flat surface. It measures a 2D space.

  • Perimeter - The distance around a 2D shape is its perimeter.

In order to focus attention on area and perimeter and strategies for calculation, arithmetic focuses on multiplication tables. Consider how you will support pupils who are less fluent in recalling these facts.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What can be done so that the shapes have the same area?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Remove the parallelogram from shape a
Correct answer: Add a parallelogram to shape b
Nothing. They already have the same area
Q2.
What is true for any regular shape?
It has all right angles.
Correct answer: It has all sides the same length.
It must be a circle, triangle or a square.
Q3.
What is the area of a square with a side length of 5 cm?
20 cm
20 cm²
25 cm
Correct answer: 25 cm²
Q4.
What is the perimeter of a square with a side length of 6 cm?
Correct answer: 24 cm
24 cm²
36 cm
36 cm²
Q5.
12 × 6 =
Correct Answer: 72
Q6.
12 × 16 =
Correct Answer: 192

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is true?
Two shapes with the same area must have the same perimeters.
Two shapes with the same perimeter must have the same area.
Correct answer: Two shapes with the same area can have different perimeters.
Q2.
How can the perimeter of this shape be increased without its area changing?
An image in a quiz
It cannot be increased, shapes with the same area must have the same perimeter.
Correct answer: Rearrange the squares so that more side lengths are on the outside of the shape.
Rearrange the squares so that fewer side lengths are on the outside of the shape
Q3.
The side length of an equilateral triangle is 8 cm. What is the area of a square with the same perimeter? cm².
Correct Answer: 36
Q4.
The side length of a regular pentagon is 8 cm. What is the area of a square with the same perimeter? cm².
Correct Answer: 100
Q5.
How many rectangles can be drawn with whole number side lengths that have an area of 4 cm²?
1
Correct answer: 2, and the perimeters are different.
2, and the perimeters are the same.
3, and the perimeters are the same.
Q6.
How many rectangles can be drawn with whole number side lengths that have an area of 16 cm²?
1
2, and the perimeters are different.
2, and the perimeters are the same.
Correct answer: 3, and the perimeters are different.
3, and the perimeters are the same.