Measurement
(perimeter and area)
HERE’S THE MATHS
Your child is learning to measure the perimeter of rectangles and squares in centimetres
and metres. They are introduced to the rule P = 2(a + b) where P is the perimeter and a
and b are the lengths of the sides. The concept of area is introduced by counting
squares, leading on to multiplying the number of squares in a row by the number of
columns.
ACTIVITY
1
12 cm
4
48 cm
Year 5&6
Maths
Newsletter
Name: ______________________
Teacher: Mrs Unsworth
MATHS TOPICS
These are the maths topics your child will be working on during the next few weeks:
2
36 cm
5
60 cm
3
100 cm
6
24 cm
You will need:
 1–6 dice
 pencil and paper
What to do
 The grid shows different perimeters of rectangles.
 Roll the dice to decide which perimeter to investigate.
 Both sketch as many different rectangles for that perimeter as possible.
 Compare sketches.
 Roll the dice to try another perimeter.
 Play for 10 minutes.
Variation
 Find the area of the different rectangles.



Properties of shapes – 2D
Properties of shapes – 3D
Measurement (perimeter and area)
We would really appreciate your help in supporting them to further progress and
have enclosed some possible fun activities you could do with them.
KEY MATHEMATICAL IDEAS
During these three weeks your child will be learning to:
 identify and name 2-D shapes with up to 8 sides.
 recognise and name 3-D shapes and describe their properties.
 measure and calculate the perimeter of 2-D shapes.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
What is the perimeter
of a 6 cm square?
Fencing costs £10 per metre.
How much does it cost to
fence a 20 m square?
The perimeter of a
rectangle is 36 m and
the length equals twice
the width. What is the
length and width?
Explain the rule
P = 2(a + b).
What is area? How
is it measured?
4
TIPS FOR GOOD HOMEWORK HABITS
Turn off the TV and computer. Choose a quiet place, preferably sitting at a table,
where your child can work comfortably without disturbance. Try to make it as fun
and as enjoyable as possible.
1
Properties of 3D shapes
Properties of 2D shapes
HERE’S THE MATHS
HERE’S THE MATHS
Your child has been learning the names of 2-D shapes (flat shapes) and to identify right
angles in them. 2-D shapes can be regular, where the sides and angles are all equal, or
irregular, where the sides and angles are not all equal. Learning and understanding the
vocabulary will aid your child’s confidence.
ACTIVITY
This week your child will be learning to identify and name 3-D shapes and their
properties. They recognise pairs of parallel and perpendicular edges and then faces.
They understand that pyramids have sloping sides that meet at a point, prisms have
the same cross-section through the whole length and that regular polyhedrons
(solids with flat faces) have identical faces.
ACTIVITY
What to do
 Shuffle the cards and put them in a pile face down.
 Turn over the top card to decide on the 2-D shape
and toss the coin to decide whether it is regular or
irregular.
 Draw and name the shape e.g. ‘5 and tails’ means
drawing an irregular pentagon.
 Repeat with the next card.
 Play for 10 minutes.
You will need:
 set of 6 cards with 3,
4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 written
on them
 coin – heads for
regular shape, tails for
an irregular shape
 paper and pencil
2
3
4
1
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
You will need:
 12 counters
or coins
QUESTIONS TO ASK
What is a 2-D shape?
Can you draw a
pentagon with two right
angles?
Describe a regular
hexagon.
The shape I am thinking of has
three sides of exactly the same
length. What is it called?
What do you call a
shape with 7 sides?
(heptagon)
Can you see a regular
2-D shape? (A square
is the most likely.)
 Ask more questions of these types and ask your child to make up questions to ask
you.
What to do
 Take turns to name the shapes. Cover each one with a counter or coin as it is named.
 Use the shapes above to ask your child questions similar to those below.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Point to a shape.
What do we call this
shape? What can you
tell me about it?
2
How many vertices
does an octahedron
have? How many
edges/faces?
3
How many pairs
of parallel sides are
there in a cuboid?
2
3