Perimeter of Polygons

Third Grade Math

by Caitlin Hardeman March 16, 2018

Finding the perimeter of a polygon is a simple process with addition! Use this lesson to teach your students how
to find the perimeter of polygons.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to calculate the perimeter of polygons.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Pentagon Perimeters worksheet (one per perimeter

partnership) length
Class set of the Trapezoid Perimeters polygon
worksheet
Youtube Video: Intro to Perimeter for Kids: How
to Find the Perimeter of Polygons
Whiteboards and whiteboard markers (one per
student)
Computer with internet access
Index cards (one per student)

Attachments

Pentagon Perimeters (PDF)

Trapezoid Perimeters (PDF)

Introduction (2 minutes)

Write the word Perimeter on the board.

Ask students to share what they know and what they want to know about the term. Record their answers
on the board around the key term.
Have students choral read the learning objective. Explain to students that they will be finding the
perimeter of different types of polygons.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (8 minutes)

Explain to students that the perimeter is the distance around a two-dimensional shape that has straight
lines. It can be calculated by measuring the length of each side and adding them up. The length is how
long one side of the shape is.
Teach the process of finding the perimeter of a polygon, an enclosed two-dimensional shape with
straight sides. Display a triangle with labeled lengths, and model adding up the lengths to find the
perimeter.
Show the Video: Intro to Perimeter for Kids: How to Find the Perimeter of Polygons.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

Instruct students to debrief about the video in small groups or partnerships. Ask, What do you think is the

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 most important tip from the video for finding perimeter of polygons? Give students time to discuss and
share out as a class.
Establish student partnerships and distribute the Pentagon Perimeters worksheet to each pair.
Assign each student as an odd number or an even number. The even number partner will complete and
think aloud about all even number questions on the worksheet. The odd number partner is responsible for
the odd number questions.
Circulate and monitor students while they work.
Review student answers by calling on nonvolunteers.

Independent working time (10 minutes)

Distribute the Trapezoid Perimeters worksheet to each student.

Instruct students to use addition to find the perimeter of each trapezoid.

Related books and/or media

EXERCISE: Perimeter and Addition

Differentiation

Support:

Intentionally partner students based on academic needs.

Create a word wall with geometry terms, including visuals, that students can reference when discussing
the perimeter of the different shapes. Include the names of shapes, characteristics of shapes, and other
key terms, such as perimeter, lengths, sides, and calculate.
Provide a sentence stem for the closing activity, such as “To find the perimeter of a polygon, ____.”
Give students a word bank to use for the closing activity with words such as, length, sides, add, addition,
perimeter.

Enrichment:

Provide students with word problems that require them to find the perimeter of a shape. Challenge
students to then create their own word problems and have a partner solve them.
Give students the opportunity to help build a border for a bulletin board. Task them with measuring the
length and width of the bulletin board to determine the perimeter. Then, give them the materials to
create the border with geometry visuals and key terminology.

Assessment (5 minutes)

Collect the Trapezoid Perimeters worksheet to serve as a formative assessment.

Give each student an index card for an Exit Ticket.
Instruct them to draw a rectangular swimming pool that has the lengths of 30 feet on the long sides, and
10 feet on the short sides. Direct students to calculate the perimeter of the swimming pool.

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Have students take out their whiteboards and whiteboard markers.

Instruct students to write one or two sentences that explain how to find the perimeter of a polygon. Have
them include an example with a labeled visual.
Choose one student to share their answer with the class.

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Name: Date:

Pentagon Perimeters

To find the perimeter of a pentagon, add up the

A pentagon lengths of each side.
is a polygon that
5 5 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25 units
has five sides
and five angles.
5 5
5

Directions: Find the perimeter of the pentagons.

3 3 6 6
1. 2.

3 3 6 6
3 6

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

4 8 8
3. 4.
6
6
8 8
5 8
5

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

5 2
5. 9 6. 3
3 8
5 6 5

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

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 Name: Date:

Trapezoid Perimeters

To find the perimeter of a trapezoid, add up the

A trapezoid is a
quadrilateral that has
one set of parallel lines,
four sides, and four
angles.
lengths of each side.
6 6 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 20 units
5 5

Directions: Find the perimeter of the trapezoids.

2 10
1. 2.
3 3 6 6
5 8

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

10 2
3. 4.
4 4
5 5
12

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

4
5. 6 6.
5
9 4
7
8
11

Perimeter: _________ units Perimeter: _________ units

Challenge: Draw a trapezoid in the space below. Label the lengths of the sides and find the perimeter.

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