Year 4 - Length and perimeter

Bring measurement to life with this active, hands-on outdoor lesson where children use chalk, trundle wheels, and PE equipment to explore length, perimeter, and unit conversions. Through large-scale creations, shape hunts, and collaborative problem-solving challenges, your class will practise measuring in centimetres, metres, and kilometres while having a blast applying reasoning skills in real-world contexts.

Lesson Plans

Recapping unit of measure conversions

Have your children apply their knowledge of converting between metres and centimetres through the challenges in this outdoor lesson. Children will have fun estimating and comparing measurements using chalk and will secure these skills using these two units of measure.

Learning objective:

To convert between units of measure (m and cm).

Converting between units of measure

Combine physical movement with problem-solving to provide your children with opportunities to convert between metres and kilometres in different contexts. This outdoor lesson utilises P.E equipment and trundle wheels to engage your children.

Learning objective:

To convert between m and km.

Measuring the perimeter of rectangles

During this outdoor lesson your children will work collaboratively to practise measuring rectilinear shapes and will go on a shape hunt to calculate perimeter. Your children will also need to apply their reasoning skills through challenge questions.

Learning objective:

To measure the perimeter of a rectangle.

Solving problems involving perimeter

The main activity of this outdoor lesson will have your children using their knowledge of length and perimeter (using the units centimetres and metres) to solve problems and collaborate to complete a large-scale chalk creation!

Learning objective:

To solve problems involving the perimeter of rectilinear shapes.

Before you get started

Safety and suistanability is super important!