Making the largest perimeter

Making the largest perimeter

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about working out perimeter and area of shapes.

Practical Task 


a)		  
Cut out the seven shapes below and arrange them to make a single rectangle with the largest perimeter possible. Stick the large rectangle on to your piece of paper.
 
b)		  
What is the perimeter of your large rectangle? __________ units
 
c)		  
What is the area of your large rectangle? __________ units2

 

 

Task administration: 

Equipment:

Scissors, glue or sellotape, paper.

Before beginning this activity you may need to clarify the meaning of "perimeter" with students.

Levels:
3, 4
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Geometry and Measurement, Measurement
Keywords: 
perimeter, area
Description of task: 
In this practical task, students cut out shapes and combine them to make a shape with the largest perimeter, and calculate the perimeter and area.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can help to identify students' understanding of calculating perimeter and area.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Measurement sense, set 5
Measurement sense, sets 6-7
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
   
2 marks
or
1 mark		 a) Makes a 24 × 4 unit rectangle.

Makes one large rectangle using all 8 pieces.
1 mark b) 56 or the correct perimeter of the rectangle the student made in a).
1 mark c) 96
Diagnostic and formative information: 
   Possible error Likely miscalculation
b) 52 Counted the squares around the outside rather than added the length of the sides.

 

 

Next steps: 
Extension: 
  • Explore all the different shapes of rectangles that can be made with these shapes.
  • Explore different ways of making these rectangles.
Answer: Rectangles with dimensions 24 × 4, 16 × 6 and 12 × 8 (plus 8 × 12, 6 × 16 and 4 × 24).