Real World Maths Adventures
The playground designer question prompts
Adult prompts and extension questions for use area, perimeter, shapes, safety spacing and budgets.
Quick answer
If you're designing a playground, you need to think about how much space you have, what shapes the equipment is, how far apart things need to be for safety, and how much money you have to spend. You use maths to work out the area and perimeter of the playground, how to arrange shapes, and how to budget for different pieces of equipment.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to use maths to plan a safe and fun playground by working out how much space you have, how to arrange shapes, and how to spend a budget wisely. Success signs:- You can measure the area and perimeter of different shapes
- You can plan how to arrange playground equipment to keep children safe
- You can work out how much money you have left after buying equipment
- You can use maths to make a playground design that fits the space
Why this matters
Designing a playground is a real-world job that uses lots of maths! Whether you're planning a new playground for a school or helping to make a fun space in your garden, you need to use maths to make sure everything fits together properly. You need to know how much space you have, how to keep children safe, and how to make sure you don’t go over budget. These skills help you become a better problem solver and help you understand how maths is used in real life.How it works
When you're designing a playground, you need to think about:- How big the playground is (area and perimeter)
- What shapes the equipment is (rectangles, circles, triangles)
- How far apart pieces of equipment need to be (safety spacing)
- How much money you have to spend (budgeting)
Examples you can see
Let’s imagine you are designing a playground for a school. Here are some real-life examples you can think about: Example 1: Measuring the playground Your school has a rectangular playground that is 12 metres long and 8 metres wide. What is the area of the playground?- Area = length × width = 12 × 8 = 96 square metres
- Total space = 96 square metres
- Space used = 4 + 6 = 10 square metres
- Space left = 96 – 10 = 86 square metres
- They must be at least 3 metres apart
- Total spent = £60 + £80 = £140
- Money left = £200 – £140 = £60
Try it as a mini adventure
The Playground Designer Challenge You are a playground designer and your job is to plan a new playground for your school. Here’s what you need to do: Step 1: Measure the playground. It is 15 metres long and 10 metres wide.- What is the area of the playground?
- What is the perimeter?
- You want to place a slide that takes up 5 square metres
- You want to place a climbing frame that takes up 7 square metres
- You want to place a sandbox that takes up 4 square metres
- You have £300 to spend
- You buy a slide for £70
- You buy a climbing frame for £90
- You buy a sandbox for £40
- How much space is left for other equipment?
- How much money do you have left?
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Forgetting to use square metres for area.
Why it happens: Children often mix up area and perimeter.
Fix: Remember that area is measured in square units (like square metres or square feet). - Mistake: Adding up all sides for area.
Why it happens: Confusing area with perimeter.
Fix: Area = length × width. Perimeter = add all sides together. - Mistake: Not checking if equipment fits in the space.
Why it happens: Not thinking about safety spacing.
Fix: Always leave at least 3 metres between equipment for safety. - Mistake: Making a budget that goes over £.
Why it happens: Not adding up prices carefully.
Fix: Always double-check your addition and subtraction.
Parent and carer guide
Parents and carers can help by:- Asking questions about the playground design, like: "How much space do you have left?" or "How much money do you have left?"
- Encouraging children to draw their playground plans and label shapes and measurements
- Using everyday examples, like measuring the kitchen or garden, to practice area and perimeter
- Helping children check their calculations with a calculator or by working backwards
- Letting children choose the budget and equipment to make it more engaging
Practice questions
- A playground is 12 metres long and 6 metres wide. What is its area?
- A playground is 15 metres long and 10 metres wide. What is its perimeter?
- You have £250 to spend. You buy a slide for £60 and a swing set for £75. How much money do you have left?
- A slide takes up 5 square metres, and a climbing frame takes up 6 square metres. How much space do they take up together?
- You have 80 square metres of playground space. You place a sandbox that takes up 5 square metres. How much space is left?
- Area = 12 × 6 = 72 square metres
- Perimeter = 15 + 10 + 15 + 10 = 50 metres
- £250 – (£60 + £75) = £250 – £135 = £115
- 5 + 6 = 11 square metres
- 80 – 5 = 75 square metres
FAQ
What is area in a playground?
Area is how much space a shape takes up. For a playground, it’s the space you have to play in. You measure it in square metres or square feet.
How do I measure the perimeter of a playground?
The perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape. You add up all the sides of the playground to find the perimeter.
Why is safety spacing important in a playground?
Safety spacing means keeping equipment far enough apart so children don’t bump into each other or get hurt. It makes the playground safer for everyone.
How do I make a budget for a playground?
First, decide how much money you have. Then, add up the prices of the equipment you want. Subtract the total from your budget to see how much money is left.
Can I use shapes to design a playground?
Yes! You can use rectangles, circles, triangles, and other shapes to design playground equipment. Knowing the area and perimeter of each shape helps you plan where to place them.