Math Playground (see Resources) provides a game in which users can find the area and perimeter of a rectangle. The game involves Amy and her brother Ben, who first provide a lesson on how to find the area and perimeter of a rectangle, then allow the learner to measure various rectangles, enter the measurements in the appropriate box, then calculate area and perimeter. There are a total of 10 problems, and at the end the learner can see how well she did.
Birmingham Grid For Learning (see Resources) offers a colorful, interactive game that teaches young learners about area and perimeter. Users are given an option to learn about area or perimeter in separate lessons. Learners click on the appropriate lesson to get started. A lesson is first provided on how to calculate area and perimeter for certain shapes, then users must select which level among three available they wish to play at. Next, users are given shapes with measurements, and must type the correct answer in the box provided. If he makes a mistake, the user can try a few more times before a suggestion to get more information appears.
Funbrain (see Resources) provides a game called Shape Surveyor, which gives students a chance to pretend they are archeologists on a dig. Students select a difficulty level, ranging from easy to super brain, and then click on the type of problems they wish to solve. Once they start digging, a shape appears on the screen along with some measurements, and the students must calculate the area, perimeter, or both. If they guess correctly, a card is removed from the table on the left that will reveal a picture after the game is complete. The game ends when all the pieces have been uncovered.
Just like the name sounds, Factmonster (see Resources) lets users take a shot at being a homerun hitter, but first they must answer some questions regarding area. Learners are given a rectangle with a different length and width, and are asked to figure out the area. If they answer correctly on the first try, they get three chances to hit a homerun. The second try gives two chances, and the third try brings one. The problems are easy to navigate through; it is the actually baseball part that can be a bit tricky.
For those who wish to implement an in classroom activity, one good project to try is to have the class plan a garden. Students can be broken up into groups to plan how big of a rectangle or space they would need, and what kind of plants can fill up that space.