Activity Description Learn the difference between perimeter and area. A random shape will be automatically generated. Calculate the area and perimeter of this shape. Shape Explorer is one of the Interactivate assessment explorers.

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Shape Explorer

Place in mathematics curriculum:

This activity can be used to:

• illustrate notions of perimeter and area
• develop students visualization skills
• practice students skills at calculating area and perimeter

This applet allows users to practice calculating perimeter and area for irregular shapes. This activity would work well in mixed ability groups of two or three for about forty-five minutes if you use the exploration questions and fifteen to twenty minutes otherwise.

Preparations for this activity:

• define and describe the concepts of area and perimeter
• walk the class through finding the pattern for area of the object using the intersections in question two of the exploration questions