Help students learn about area and perimeter by having them take measurements of different objects in the classroom. Students will then rearrange the classroom on graph paper using their measurements of the perimeter of the classroom, desks and other objects so that they fit within the space that is available to them. They will label the different items with the measurements they took to justify that they fit in the way they have assembled them.
This activity requires a bit of research on the part of the student. Ask students to look at different packages of holiday lights to determine how far the lights in each package will extend. Each student will choose an area of her house or the school that she can safely measure. Explain that students can only measure areas that are inside, as they will not be allowed to measure high or dangerous areas such as the outside of their home. According to the package of lights and students' measurements of the area's perimeter, they will calculate how many lights they would need to cover the space. They can include top and bottom of walls, corners and around windows, depending on the age group and difficulty level that the teacher is dealing with. Students can use graph paper to draw their area to scale and show how they would decorate it.
For this activity, students will find a space on the school grounds that needs to be updated and plan a garden for it. They will research different plants and flowers to find out how large they grow and design the garden so that the plants will fit appropriately when they are full grown. The students will take into account the perimeter and area of the space they are using when planning the garden. If the students wish to actually plant the garden on school grounds, they will need to gain the permission of school administration and raise funds for purchasing the supplies to finish the project and plant the garden.
Have students decided upon a unit of measurement. They will then use this unit of measurement to estimate the area and perimeter of different objects in the classroom and on school grounds. Measure items beforehand and create a worksheet with the list of items and spaces for estimates and actual measurements. Students will then work through the list, first giving estimated perimeter and area and then measuring the object to get actual perimeter and area. They will write down their results as they go and share with the class their results.