Unit 4- Perimeter, Area, and Polygons

During this unit, students measure length by using U.S. standard units (inches, feet, yards) and metric units (centimeters, meters). They investigate characteristics of triangles and quadrilaterals (4-sided polygons). They use right angles as a reference to identify other angles as being greater than or less than 90 degrees. Students solve problems about perimeter (the length of the border of a figure) and area (the measure of how much flat space a figure covers). 

Activities to Try at Home 

Measuring Length Around the House Measurement questions occur often in our home lives. Typical questions that may come up include these: How far is it across our kitchen table? How many children can fit comfortably on the couch? What is the perimeter of the new rug, and will it fit in the bedroom? Encourage your child to estimate and measure distances in these practical situations. You may involve your child in your own measurement activities. Hobbies such as sewing and carpentry are a natural for this. You and your child can go outside to measure longer distances. How many yards is it to the end of the block? What is the distance in feet between two trees? Is the perimeter of the sandbox larger or smaller than the perimeter of the flower garden? 

Measuring Area Around the House Look for opportunities at home to talk with your child about area—the two-dimensional measure of the size of a surface. If you have square tiles covering a floor or bathroom wall, ask, “How many squares are there?” Ask your child to help you figure out the area of a tabletop or the floor of a room by using different common objects as the unit of measure. For example, how many sheets of notebook paper would it take to cover the kitchen floor? How many index cards would it take to cover a table? Your child can estimate the answer first and then use the sheets of paper or index cards to find the exact amount. 

Triangle and Quadrilateral Scavenger Hunt Look for examples of triangles and quadrilaterals (closed shapes with 4 straight sides) during your daily travels with your child. For example, when you are in the car together, your child can call out the triangles or quadrilaterals that he or she sees on signs, buildings, shop windows, and so on.