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Session 29: Perimeter word problems

Session Title

Perimeter word problems 

Objective


  1. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
  2. Define perimeter and understand its significance.
  3. Calculate the perimeter of various shapes, including squares, rectangles, and irregular polygons.
  4. Apply perimeter concepts to real-life situations.

Concepts

  1. Whiteboard and markers
  2. Ruler or measuring tape
  3. Chart with formulas for perimeter
  4. Worksheet with practice problems
  5. Geometry tools (optionals)

Materials required 

  1. A measuring tape or ruler
  2. Paper and pencil
  3. Classroom objects (benches, desks, windows, doors, etc.)

Methodology 

1. Direct Instruction: The Teacher introduces the concept of perimeter with examples and uses diagrams.

2. Hands-on Practice: Students work on exercises individually or in pairs to calculate the perimeter of different shapes.

Session Duration 

90 minutes 

Introduction activity (10 minutes)

1. Engage students: Ask, “What do you think ‘perimeter’ means?”

2. Hook Question: “If you walked all the way around your backyard, what are you measuring?” (Introduce the idea of perimeter.)

3. Define Perimeter: The distance around a 2D shape.

4. Show visuals of different shapes and identify their sides.

Main Activity(minutes):

Teach formulas: (10 minutes)

Rectangle: P = 2(l + w)

Square: P = 4 × side

Triangle: P = a + b + c

Use real-life examples: (15 minutes)

1.Fencing a garden  -Problem: Rectangle Garden 

Sarah wants to put a fence around her rectangular garden. The length of the garden is 8 meters and the width is 5 meters.

Question:

What is the total length of fencing Sarah needs?

Answer:

Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width) = 2 × (8 + 5) = 2 × 13 = 26 meters 

2.Square Chalkboard  Problem:

A chalkboard in the classroom is square and each side measures 5 feet.

Question:

What is the total length of trim needed to go around the board?

Answer:

Perimeter = 4 × 5 = 20 feet

3 Triangle

.A triangle has sides that measure 6 cm, 7 cm, and 5 cm. What is the perimeter?

Solution:

Perimeter = 6 + 7 + 5 = 18 cm

Independent Practices (25 minutes )

Rectangle Problem

1.A rectangle has a length of 8 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is its perimeter?

Solution:

Perimeter = 2 × (length + width)

= 2 × (8 + 5) = 2 × 13 = 26 cm

 Square Problem

1.Each side of a square is 9 meters. What is the perimeter of the square?

Solution:

Perimeter = 4 × side = 4 × 9 = 36 meters

 Square Tile

One square floor tile has sides that measure 30 cm.

Question: What is the perimeter of the tile?

Answer:

Perimeter = 4 × 30 = 120 cm

C. Triangle Problem

1.A triangle has sides that measure 6 cm, 7 cm, and 5 cm. What is the perimeter?

Solution:

Perimeter = 6 + 7 + 5 = 18 cm

2. Triangular Flower Bed

A triangular flower bed has three sides that measure 7 feet, 9 feet, and 6 feet.

Question: What is the total length of the fencing needed for the flower bed?

Answer:

Perimeter = 7 + 9 + 6 = 22 feet

5. Irregular Shape Problem

A shape has sides measuring 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 2 cm, and 6 cm. What is the total perimeter?

Solution:

Perimeter = 3 + 4 + 5 + 2 + 6 = 20 cm

6. Missing Side Problem

A rectangle has a length of 14 m. The perimeter is 46 m. What is the width?

Solution:

Perimeter = 2 × (length + width)

46 = 2 × (14 + width)

46 = 28 + 2 × width

46 - 28 = 18

2 × width = 18 → width = 9 meters

Game Time  (20 minutes)

Instruction -

  • Ask the children what they see in the farmhouse.
  • Give them only the questions you have given them, and explain the questions in a way that will lead them to the answer.
  • These problems should be divided into 4 papers and given to each group.
  • Divide them into four groups and give the same topics to two groups..
  1. Group 1 - farm house
  2. Group 2 - classroom
  3. Group 3- farm house 
  4. Group 4- classroom 

1. Fencing or Walls

Problem: You want to fence the entire perimeter of your farmhouse which is 100m long and 60m wide.

Question: How much fencing is needed?

Solution: Perimeter = 2 × (100 + 60) = 320 മീറ്റർസ്

2. Gates

Problem: You plan to install a gate on each side of a square farmhouse (each side 75 meters).

Question: What is the distance between each gate if equally spaced?

Solution: Perimeter = 4 × 75 = 300 meters

Distance between gates = 300 ÷ 4 = 75 meters

3. Paths or Roads

Problem: A walking path is to be laid around the edge of the farmhouse (perimeter = 280 meters).

Question: If it costs ₹50 per meter to build the path, what is the total cost?

Solution: 280 × 50 = ₹14,000

4. Animal Pens or Shelters

Problem: You plan to build 3 animal pens along one 90-meter side of the perimeter, spaced equally.

Question: How long is each pen (if no space between)?

Solution: 90 ÷ 3 = 30 meters per pen

5. Hedges or Trees

Problem: You are planting trees every 10 meters along a 240-meter perimeter.

Question: How many trees do you need?

Solution: 240 ÷ 10 = 24 trees

6. Water Channels or Ditches

Problem: You want to dig a drainage ditch along the full perimeter (300 meters).

Question: How much digging is required?

Solution: 300 meters of ditch

1. Walls

Problem: The classroom is rectangular, with a length of 8 meters and a width of 6 meters.

Question: What is the perimeter of the classroom?

Solution:

Perimeter = 2 × (8 + 6) = 2 × 14 = 28 meters

2. Doors

Problem: There are 2 doors in the classroom, each measuring 1.5 meters wide. If the total perimeter of the classroom is 28 meters,

Question: What is the total width of the doors compared to the perimeter?

Solution:

Total width of doors = 2 × 1.5 = 3 meters

The doors take up 3 meters of the perimeter.

3. Windows

Problem: There are 4 windows, each 2 meters wide, placed along the perimeter of the classroom.

Question: What is the total width of all the windows?

Solution:

Total width of windows = 4 × 2 = 8 meters

4. Blackboard/Whiteboard

Problem: The classroom has a whiteboard that is 3 meters wide. If you want to place a frame around the whiteboard,

Question: What is the perimeter of the frame?

Solution:

Perimeter = 2 × (3 + 1) = 2 × 4 = 8 meters (assuming a 1-meter height for the whiteboard).

5. Decorations or Charts

Problem: You plan to hang charts along 3 walls, with each wall being 5 meters long.

Question: What is the total length of the walls where charts will be hung?

Solution:

Total length = 3 × 5 = 15 meter

The team that completes the problems first will win

Review Questions (5 minutes)

Follow up Task (5 minutes)

Home Work

Rectangle Garden

Lena is planting a rectangular garden that is 9 meters long and 6 meters wide.

Question: How much fencing will she need to go around the garden?

Answer:

Perimeter = 2 × (9 + 6) = 2 × 15 = 30 meters

Expected learning outcome 

Knowledge building

  • Formulas for Perimeter
  • Definition of Perimeter
  • Properties of Shapes

Skill building

  • Reading and Understanding Word Problems
  • Calculation Accuracy
  • Choosing the Right Formula