A free area and perimeter anchor chart: perimeter is the distance around, area is the space inside, with one rectangle worked both ways and the units for each. For grades 3–5. Print it on one page, or on four pages to tape together as a poster.
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
A1Area and perimeter anchor chart · page 1 of 4 · A2 to the right · B1 below
A2 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
A2Area and perimeter anchor chart · page 2 of 4 · B2 below · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
A1 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
B1Area and perimeter anchor chart · page 3 of 4 · B2 to the right · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
B2 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Area and perimeter
Perimeter is the distance around a shape
Add the lengths of all the sides.
A rectangle 5 units long and 3 units wide: 5 + 3 + 5 + 3 = 16 units.
Area is the space inside a shape
Count the unit squares, or multiply length × width.
The same rectangle: 5 × 3 = 15 square units.
Which one do I need?
A fence around a yard: perimeter.
Carpet to cover a floor: area.
Units
Perimeter: units, such as cm or ft.
Area: square units, such as square cm or square ft.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
B2Area and perimeter anchor chart · page 4 of 4 · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
B1 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
How to use it
One page: print it for a notebook or a table, or project it while you teach.
A poster: print the four pages at 100% (the 10 cm bar on each page checks it). Each page after A1 says where it goes: trim its left and top edges at the marks, lay it over the page before at the ticks, and tape the back. It makes a poster about 15 by 20 inches.
Make it yours: build the chart with the class first and keep this one as your model, or add the class's own examples on sticky notes.