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Maths Adventures

Wizard school maths quest: perimeter

A story-led junior maths adventure using potions, spells and pattern magic to measure fences, walls and safe zones around places.

Quick answer

Perimeter is the total distance around the edge of a shape. You find it by adding up all the sides.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know how to measure the distance around any shape and use this to solve magic puzzles in wizard school. Success signs:
  • You can identify the perimeter of simple shapes
  • You can add up all the sides to find the perimeter
  • You can use perimeter to help solve wizard school challenges
  • You can draw shapes and label their sides to find the perimeter

Why this matters

In wizard school, you need to know perimeter to:
  • Build safe walls around your potion garden
  • Measure the fence for your magical pet's play area
  • Calculate how much spell energy you need to surround a spell circle
  • Plan the right size for your wizard's tower
Perimeter helps you understand how much space something takes up around the outside. This is useful for:
  • Planning your garden
  • Building your LEGO castle
  • Measuring your bedroom
  • Knowing how far to run around a football pitch

How it works

Finding the perimeter is simple:
  1. Look at all the sides of a shape
  2. Add up all the sides
  3. Write your answer with the right unit (like metres or feet)
For a rectangle (like a book or a door):
  • Two sides are the same length (the width)
  • Two sides are the same length (the height)
So you can double the width and double the height, then add them together.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're at wizard school and need to measure your potion garden. Example 1: Square garden
  • Your garden is a square
  • Each side is 5 metres long
  • Perimeter = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 metres
Example 2: Rectangular garden
  • Your garden is a rectangle
  • Length = 8 metres
  • Width = 4 metres
  • Perimeter = 8 + 4 + 8 + 4 = 24 metres
Example 3: Triangle garden
  • Your garden is a triangle
  • Sides = 6 metres, 6 metres, 6 metres
  • Perimeter = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 metres

Try it as a mini adventure

Wizard School Quest: The Safe Zone Challenge You are a new wizard student at Wizard School. Your teacher has given you a magical challenge: build a safe zone around the new spell circle in the school courtyard. The spell circle is a rectangle that is 6 metres long and 4 metres wide. Your mission is to:
  1. Draw a rectangle that is 6 metres long and 4 metres wide
  2. Measure the perimeter of the rectangle
  3. Calculate how much magical fence you need to build around it
  4. Write down your answer in metres
Step-by-step guide:
  1. Draw a rectangle with one side 6 metres and the other side 4 metres
  2. Label the sides: 6m, 4m, 6m, 4m
  3. Add them up: 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = ?
  4. Write your answer: The perimeter is ? metres
4th time: ? metres 5th time: ? metres 6th time: ? metres 7th time: ? metres 8th time: ? metres 9th time: ? metres 10th time: ? metres

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Only adding two sides instead of all four
    Why it happens: Not looking at all sides carefully
    Fix: Count each side once, and double-check that you have four sides
  • Mistake: Forgetting to include units (like metres)
    Why it happens: Thinking the answer is just a number
    Fix: Always write your answer with the unit (metres, centimetres)
  • Mistake: Adding up the inside of the shape instead of the outside
    Why it happens: Confusing perimeter with area
    Fix: Remember perimeter is around the outside, not inside

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Using everyday objects to practice perimeter
  • Measuring the edges of books, tables, or rooms
  • Playing the perimeter game together
  • Encouraging them to draw shapes and label sides
  • Checking that they include units in their answers
What to say:
  • "Let's measure the edges of your toy box together"
  • "How far would you walk around your bedroom?"
  • "Can you draw a shape and find its perimeter?"
What not to worry about:
  • Your child might mix up perimeter and area at first - this is normal
  • They may forget units - just remind them gently
  • They might count sides wrong - encourage them to double-check

Practice questions

  1. What is the perimeter of a square with sides of 3 metres?
  2. What is the perimeter of a rectangle that is 5 metres long and 2 metres wide?
  3. What is the perimeter of a triangle with sides of 4 metres, 5 metres, and 6 metres?
  4. What is the perimeter of a square with sides of 7 metres?
  5. What is the perimeter of a rectangle that is 10 metres long and 3 metres wide?
Answers:
  1. 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 metres
  2. 5 + 2 + 5 + 2 = 14 metres
  3. 4 + 5 + 6 = 15 metres
  4. 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28 metres
  5. 10 + 3 + 10 + 3 = 26 metres

FAQ

What is perimeter?

Perimeter is the total distance around the outside edge of a shape.

How do you find the perimeter of a rectangle?

Add up all four sides. If it's 6 metres long and 4 metres wide, the perimeter is 6 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 20 metres.

Can you find the perimeter of any shape?

Yes, as long as it's a closed shape with straight sides.

Why do we need to know perimeter?

It helps us plan spaces, build fences, measure gardens, and solve magic puzzles in wizard school.

How is perimeter different from area?

Perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape. Area is the space inside the shape.