Cut shapes from construction paper around the classroom. Use squares and rectangles for beginners and add stars, triangles and polygons for older students. Assign a number to each shape. Have students measure the perimeter with rulers and record their measurements next to the corresponding number on a sheet of paper. Once all the measurements are taken, students should return to their desks to figure out the perimeters of the shapes.
The next lesson uses the same measurements to figure out the area. Work on the area together, asking students to tell you the measurements. Once the area of the shape is found, write it on the shape. Alternately, students can work in small groups with shapes distributed evenly among the class.
Students trace their hand or foot on a piece of graph paper. Their hands can be open or formed into a fist on the graph paper. Instruct them to find the area by counting the squares inside the outline. Encourage skip counting to add up all the whole squares and then mark the half-filled and quarter-filled squares with different colored pencils. Add these partially filled squares up to make wholes and then add to the count to determine the area.
Use a piece of yarn to measure the outline of their tracing. Use a ruler to measure the yarn to find the perimeter of each student's hand or foot.
Have students draw their dream home on graph paper. Show them how a basic architectural drawing is done so that they can show the bird's-eye view of the rooms of the house. Once they are done designing their dream home, have them label the room and then determine the perimeter and area of each room they included.
Have the students turn in their sketches along with all the measurements of each room. This will be their application for the imaginary math neighborhood. If all their measurements are correct, approve their work placed their drawings on the math neighborhood bulletin board. Continue the lesson by assigning students an additional building or feature of neighborhood for homework. For example, some children can design a community pool, playground, school or stores. Once the area and perimeter are correct, these features can be added to the board.
Place several large boxes in the room. Seal the boxes. Have students come up with a possible present that would fit in each one--for example, a video game system, skateboard or doll house--and write that on the outside of the box. This is a way of labeling the boxes. Alternately, the boxes could be numbered. Have students work in teams according to the imaginary present--"Team Skateboard," "Team Play Station"--to find the perimeter and surface of each side. Write the results directly on the box and then switch boxes with another team to check the answers.