MAFS.3.MD.4.8Archived Standard

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Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.
General Information
Subject Area: Mathematics
Grade: 3
Domain-Subdomain: Measurement and Data
Cluster: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Cluster: Geometric measurement: recognize perimeter as an attribute of plane figures and distinguish between linear and area measures. (Additional Cluster) -

Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/14
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications

  • Assessment Limits :
    For items involving area, only polygons that can be tiled with square units are allowable. Dimensions of figures are limited to whole numbers. All values in items may not exceed whole number multiplication facts of 10 x 10. Items are not required to have a graphic, but sufficient dimension information must be given.
  • Calculator :

    No

  • Context :

    Required

Sample Test Items (3)
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 2
  • Question:

    Ben has a rectangular garden with side lengths of 2 feet and 5 feet. What is the perimeter, in feet, of Ben's garden?

  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: EE: Equation Editor
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 3
  • Question:

    The perimeter of a rectangular field is 74 yards. The length of the field is 27 yards. What is the width, in yards, of the field?

  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: EE: Equation Editor

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5012050: Grade Three Mathematics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7712040: Access Mathematics Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5012055: Grade 3 Accelerated Mathematics (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5012015: Foundational Skills in Mathematics 3-5 (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Formative Assessments

Finding the Perimeter of a Polygon with Missing Sides:

Students are asked to find the perimeter of a hexagon in which the lengths of two sides are not given but can be found.

Type: Formative Assessment

What Is the Missing Length?:

Students are asked to find the length of a missing side on two polygons given the perimeter of each and the lengths of the other sides.

Type: Formative Assessment

Rectangles with the Same Perimeter:

Students are asked to find the whole number dimensions of every rectangle with a given perimeter and then find the area of each rectangle.

Type: Formative Assessment

Perimeters of Polygons with All Sides Known:

Students are asked to find the perimeters of three different polygons.

Type: Formative Assessment

Find All The Possible Rectangles:

Students are asked to find the whole number dimensions of every rectangle with a given area and then find the perimeter of each rectangle.

Type: Formative Assessment

Lesson Plans

Finding Perimeter:

In this lesson, students will explore a real world problem based on the Marilyn Burns book Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!. The problem and further practice finding the distance around rectangles will lead them to discover efficient strategies and formulas for solving perimeter.

Type: Lesson Plan

Make A Mighty Monster: Practice with Area and Perimeter:

In this culminating activity, students will use their knowledge of area and perimeter to create a "Mighty Monster" following specific criteria. Given a designated area, students will make their monster on centimeter grid paper and calculate both the area and perimeter of each body part, as well as the combined area and perimeter of the entire figure.

Type: Lesson Plan

"This is InTENTS!":

This STEM challenge will engage the students in the ways to create different rectangles that have the same area, but different perimeters. They will also explore how to use the scientific method to test their designs with hypothesis, records, data, and a conclusion. This STEM challenge combines architectural engineering with life science and measurement skills for math.

Type: Lesson Plan

Best Vegetable Garden:

The students will plan a vegetable garden, deciding which kinds of vegetables to plant, how many plants of each kind will fit, and where each plant will be planted in a fixed-area garden design. Then they will revise their design based on new garden dimensions and additional plant options.  Students will explore the concept of area to plan their garden and they will practice solving 1 and 2-step real-world problems using the four operations to develop their ideas.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Perimeter - It's a Linear Measurement:

In this lesson, students will review finding perimeter of polygons and apply their knowledge of finding perimeter and area to compute unknown side lengths. Students draw rectangles with a specific perimeter and draw rectangles with a specific area but different perimeters.

Type: Lesson Plan

Same Perimeter, Different Area:

In this lesson, students are presented with a problem that requires them to create rectangles with the same perimeter but different areas.  Students also search for relationships among the perimeters and areas of different rectangles and find which characteristics produce a rectangle with the greatest area.

Type: Lesson Plan

A Table For 36 Please:

This lesson reinforces perimeter as students arrange tables to decorate.




Type: Lesson Plan

Which Apartment?:

You are a builder who needs to find out what to charge people for rent based on the needs of the different clients and what they might need in an apartment.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Make A Mighty Monster: Practice with Area and Perimeter:

In this lesson, students will use their knowledge of area and perimeter to create a "Mighty Monster”. Given specific criteria related to area and perimeter, students will make their monster on centimeter grid paper and calculate both the area and perimeter of each body part to explore the differences between the two types of measurement.

Type: Lesson Plan

No Spare Space:

In this lesson, the students are employees of a fencing company. They are working with a customer to try and get the best deal and design of a fence that will fit the customer's area needs. Students will have to use reasoning skills in order to fill in missing information. Students will also discuss whether or not their designs have met the needs of the customer.

Type: Lesson Plan

Finding Perimeter by Counting Unit Segments:

In this lesson, students will explore a real world problem based on the Marilyn Burns book Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!. The problem and further practice finding the distance around rectangles will lead them to conceptually understand finding the perimeter of rectangles.

Type: Lesson Plan

Area and Perimeter of Rectangles Investigations:

Students will determine the validity of the statement, "All rectangles with the same area will have the same perimeter" through two investigations.

Type: Lesson Plan

House Building Architects:

In this lesson, students are tasked with drawing a house based on given directions. The directions include the area and perimeter of particular features of the house. This resource is recommended as a review of perimeter and area.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Penelope's Perimeter Project:

Use visuals and formulas to find the perimeter and help Penelope as she creates a rectangular herb garden. Find the perimeter of rectangles using visuals and formulas in this student tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Planning My Garden Using Perimeter:

Plan some gardens by applying what you learn about perimeter in this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Tutorial

Introduction to Perimeter:

This Khan Academy video presents finding perimeter by adding side-lengths of various polygons.

Type: Tutorial

Virtual Manipulatives

Perimeter Explorer:

This activity allows the user to test his or her skill at calculating the perimeter of a random shape. The user is given a random shape and asked to enter a value for the perimeter. The applet then informs the user whether or not the value is correct. The user may continue trying until he or she gets the correct answer.

This activity would work well in mixed ability groups of two or three for about 25 minutes if you use the exploration questions, and 10-15 minutes otherwise.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Area and Perimeter Shape Builder:

This activity operates in one of two modes: auto draw and create shape mode, allowing you to explore relationships between area and perimeter. Shape Builder is one of the Interactivate assessment explorers.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

Best Vegetable Garden:

The students will plan a vegetable garden, deciding which kinds of vegetables to plant, how many plants of each kind will fit, and where each plant will be planted in a fixed-area garden design. Then they will revise their design based on new garden dimensions and additional plant options.  Students will explore the concept of area to plan their garden and they will practice solving 1 and 2-step real-world problems using the four operations to develop their ideas.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Which Apartment?:

You are a builder who needs to find out what to charge people for rent based on the needs of the different clients and what they might need in an apartment.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

MFAS Formative Assessments

Find All The Possible Rectangles:

Students are asked to find the whole number dimensions of every rectangle with a given area and then find the perimeter of each rectangle.

Finding the Perimeter of a Polygon with Missing Sides:

Students are asked to find the perimeter of a hexagon in which the lengths of two sides are not given but can be found.

Perimeters of Polygons with All Sides Known:

Students are asked to find the perimeters of three different polygons.

Rectangles with the Same Perimeter:

Students are asked to find the whole number dimensions of every rectangle with a given perimeter and then find the area of each rectangle.

What Is the Missing Length?:

Students are asked to find the length of a missing side on two polygons given the perimeter of each and the lengths of the other sides.

Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5

Penelope's Perimeter Project:

Use visuals and formulas to find the perimeter and help Penelope as she creates a rectangular herb garden. Find the perimeter of rectangles using visuals and formulas in this student tutorial. 

Planning My Garden Using Perimeter:

Plan some gardens by applying what you learn about perimeter in this interactive tutorial. 

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorials

Penelope's Perimeter Project:

Use visuals and formulas to find the perimeter and help Penelope as she creates a rectangular herb garden. Find the perimeter of rectangles using visuals and formulas in this student tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Planning My Garden Using Perimeter:

Plan some gardens by applying what you learn about perimeter in this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Tutorial

Introduction to Perimeter:

This Khan Academy video presents finding perimeter by adding side-lengths of various polygons.

Type: Tutorial

Virtual Manipulatives

Perimeter Explorer:

This activity allows the user to test his or her skill at calculating the perimeter of a random shape. The user is given a random shape and asked to enter a value for the perimeter. The applet then informs the user whether or not the value is correct. The user may continue trying until he or she gets the correct answer.

This activity would work well in mixed ability groups of two or three for about 25 minutes if you use the exploration questions, and 10-15 minutes otherwise.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Area and Perimeter Shape Builder:

This activity operates in one of two modes: auto draw and create shape mode, allowing you to explore relationships between area and perimeter. Shape Builder is one of the Interactivate assessment explorers.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.