Maths Adventures
Arctic maths quest: perimeter
A story-led junior maths adventure using ice maps, temperature and survival supplies to measure fences, walls and safe zones around places.
Quick answer
Perimeter is the total distance around the edge of a shape. You can find it by adding up all the sides of a shape, like walking around the outside of a fence or a room.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to measure the perimeter of simple shapes by adding up all the sides. Success signs:- You can identify the edges of a shape
- You can add up all the sides to find the total distance
- You can solve real-life problems involving perimeter
- You can explain how to find the perimeter of a shape
Why this matters
Perimeter is useful in many real-life situations, especially when you need to know how much fencing you need for a garden, how far you walk around a park, or how much rope you need to make a safe zone for your pets. In the Arctic, scientists and explorers use perimeter to plan safe areas for animals, build shelters, and measure ice floes.How it works
To find the perimeter of a shape, you need to:- Look at all the sides of the shape
- Add up the length of each side
- Write down your answer in units like metres or centimetres
Examples you can see
Let's imagine you're on an Arctic maths quest! You are exploring a frozen landscape and need to build a safe zone for some penguins. Example 1: Square Penguin Pen You want to build a square pen for the penguins. Each side of the square is 4 metres long.- Side 1: 4 metres
- Side 2: 4 metres
- Side 3: 4 metres
- Side 4: 4 metres
- Length: 6 metres
- Width: 4 metres
- Length: 6 metres
- Width: 4 metres
- Side 1: 3 metres
- Side 2: 4 metres
- Side 3: 5 metres
Try it as a mini adventure
Arctic Maths Quest: Building a Safe Zone You are an Arctic explorer and need to build a safe zone for a group of Arctic foxes. The foxes need a space that is 5 metres long and 3 metres wide. Your task is to measure the perimeter of the area you need to fence. Step 1: Draw a rectangle to represent the fox area. Make sure it's 5 metres long and 3 metres wide. Step 2: Label each side with its measurement. Step 3: Add up all the sides to find the perimeter. Step 4: Write down your answer in metres. Step 5: Think about how many metres of fencing you would need. Step 6: If each metre of fencing costs £10, how much would it cost to fence the whole area? Step 7: Draw a sketch of your safe zone and write your final answer. Step 8: What if you wanted to make the area bigger by adding 1 metre to each side? How would that change the perimeter?Common mistakes
- Mistake: Forgetting to measure all sides of a shape Why it happens: Children might only measure some sides or think they can guess the missing sides Fix: Always count all sides and write them down before adding them up
- Mistake: Adding the length and width instead of all the sides Why it happens: Confusing perimeter with area Fix: Remember perimeter is the distance around the outside, so measure each edge
- Mistake: Mixing up units (metres and centimetres) Why it happens: Not paying attention to which units are used Fix: Always check that all measurements are in the same unit before adding
- Mistake: Not writing down the answer in the correct units Why it happens: Rushing through the problem Fix: Always write your final answer with the correct unit (e.g., 12 metres)
Parent and carer guide
To help your child with perimeter, you can:- Ask your child to measure the perimeter of rooms in your house using a tape measure or ruler
- Play a game where you measure different objects and find their perimeter
- Use everyday items like books, boxes, or picture frames to practice
- Encourage your child to draw shapes and label the sides before calculating
- Remind your child to always check that their measurements are in the same units
- Ask your child to explain how they found the perimeter to make sure they understand the concept
- Point out real-life examples like garden fencing, room boundaries, or swimming pool edges
- Use visual aids like drawing shapes on paper or using blocks to represent the sides
Practice questions
- What is the perimeter of a square with sides of 6 cm?
- Answer: 24 cm
- A rectangle has sides of 8 m, 5 m, 8 m, and 5 m. What is its perimeter?
- Answer: 26 m
- A triangle has sides of 3 m, 4 m, and 5 m. What is its perimeter?
- Answer: 12 m
- A square has sides of 7 cm. What is its perimeter?
- Answer: 28 cm
- A rectangle is 10 cm long and 4 cm wide. What is its perimeter?
- Answer: 28 cm
FAQ
What is perimeter?
Perimeter is the total distance around the edge of a shape. It's like walking all the way around the outside of a shape.
How do I find the perimeter of a rectangle?
To find the perimeter of a rectangle, add up all four sides. If the sides are 6 m and 4 m, you add 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 20 m.
Can I find perimeter of any shape?
Yes, you can find the perimeter of any shape as long as you can measure all the sides.
Why do we need to know perimeter?
We need to know perimeter for many real-life things like building fences, planning gardens, or measuring how far you walk around a park.
How is perimeter different from area?
Perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape, while area is the space inside the shape.