This activity is a student-centered and engaging activity to have the class notice the effects of changes in dimension on perimeter and area. Students will fill in a table to notice and wonder about connections as the calculate the perimeter and area their assigned figure.

This activity has been differentiated to meet the needs of your classroom. You can assign a single figure and have a more guided worksheet. It is also fully editable so that you can alter activities to meet the needs of your learners.

Optional extensions and challenges:

1. Have groups rotate around to solve the area and perimeter of the chalk figures drawn by the other groups.
2. Have groups record the original dimensions of the paper figure that was given to the other groups. They will need to work backwards to calculate the original dimensions. This would be serve as an excellent follow-up and allow them to discover the patterns. It could take a second class period.
3. The dimensions are deleted from one set. You may have students measure the figures and find the dimensions themselves for extra practice with measurement. For this set, the dimensions are measured in inches, but you can change it to cm and have students go to the nearest mm for more practice with decimals.

There is an answer key attached.