Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Perimeter

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objective stage is crucial to direct the students' focus and clearly establish what is expected of them to learn and be able to do by the end of the lesson. By defining specific and measurable goals, students can better align their expectations and efforts with the proposed activities, ensuring a more effective and engaged learning experience.

Main Objectives:

1. Enable students to calculate the perimeter of simple geometric figures such as triangle, square, and pentagon.

2. Develop the ability to apply perimeter calculation in practical situations, such as determining the amount of tape needed to go around a box or fence an area.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving through practical challenges involving perimeter calculations.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and encourage them to revisit prior knowledge in an active and contextualized manner. The proposed problem situations encourage students to apply the perimeter concepts they studied previously, preparing them for practical use and review in class. The contextualization helps demonstrate the relevance of the topic in the real world, increasing students' interest and motivation.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine that you have a tape measure and need to measure the outline of a box that has one side 5 centimeters and another side 8 centimeters. How would you calculate the total tape needed to go around the entire box?

2. A farmer needs to fence a small triangular plot of land with sides measuring 10 meters, 15 meters, and 20 meters. He wants to know how much fence he needs to buy to enclose the entire area. How should the farmer calculate the total meters of fence needed?

Contextualization

The perimeter is a very useful measure in our daily lives, especially in situations that involve measuring land, building fences, and even in object design. Knowing how to correctly calculate the perimeter not only helps in practical tasks, but also aids in better understanding geometry and its applications in the real world. For example, in ancient times, the Egyptians used the concept of perimeter to calculate the area of agricultural land after the flooding of the Nile River, which was crucial for resource distribution and taxation.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage aims to consolidate students' knowledge of perimeter calculation through practical and playful activities, allowing them to creatively and collaboratively apply what they have learned. By solving problems in groups, students develop communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills that are essential for mathematical learning. Each proposed activity is designed to be engaging and challenging, ensuring that students can explore the topic in a deep and meaningful way.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Perimeter Hunt

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply perimeter calculation knowledge in a game context, developing teamwork and mathematical reasoning skills.

- Description: In this playful activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and participate in a 'Treasure Hunt'. The setting is a mysterious island with various marked spots on the ground, representing geometric figures like triangles, squares, and pentagons. Each group will receive a map indicating the starting point and the coordinates of the locations of these figures. The challenge is to calculate the perimeter of each figure and at the end, estimate which group covered the largest total perimeter.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the maps and explain the coordinates of each figure.

• Students must calculate the perimeter of each figure and jot it down in their notebooks.

• Each correct calculation earns points for the group.

• At the end, each group presents their calculations and the teacher verifies the accuracy.

• The group that accumulates the largest correctly calculated total perimeter wins.

Activity 2 - Architects in Action

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop perimeter calculation skills and practical application in a design context, promoting critical thinking and creativity.

- Description: Students, grouped into teams, will assume the role of architects in charge of designing the layout of a playground. They will use miniatures of Tetris pieces representing different geometric shapes with known areas, but their perimeters must be calculated to ensure they fit in the available space. The challenge is to maximize the play area while minimizing the total perimeter of the shapes used.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain the design of the playground and the dimensions of the available space.

• Provide the teams with miniatures of various Tetris pieces representing the available shapes.

• Students must calculate the perimeter of each shape and decide how to position them in the design to minimize the total perimeter.

• Each group presents their project and explains their design decisions.

• The teacher assesses the projects based on the efficiency of space usage and the accurate calculation of perimeters.

Activity 3 - The Great Perimeter Tournament

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote practical understanding of perimeter calculation, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.

- Description: In this tournament, each group of students receives a 'building kit' that includes popsicle sticks and gummies. They must use these materials to construct simple geometric figures, whose perimeters must be calculated. The objective is to build the figure with the largest possible perimeter, using all available resources. After construction, the students calculate the perimeter and present their figures and results to the class.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Distribute the building kits to each group.

• Each group builds geometric figures using the provided materials.

• After construction, they calculate the perimeter of each figure.

• Groups present their figures, explain the construction process, and show how they calculated the perimeter.

• The group with the largest correctly calculated total perimeter is declared the winner.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to allow students to articulate what they have learned, reflect on the learning process, and share insights with their peers. This moment is crucial for students to verbalize and consolidate their understanding, as well as learn from the experiences of other groups. Group discussion also helps the teacher assess the level of students' understanding and identify any areas that may need additional review.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, the teacher should gather all students and ask each group to share their experiences and findings. It is recommended to begin with a brief review of what was proposed in each activity and then allow students to express their opinions. The teacher may also suggest that each group explain the reasoning behind the solutions found and what they learned about perimeter calculation. This exchange of information will help solidify knowledge and allow students to see different approaches to the same problems.

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced when calculating the perimeters in the activities?

2. How did collaboration in the group help in solving the problems?

3. Was there any particular strategy that your group used that worked well for calculating the perimeter of the figures?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to consolidate students' learning, ensuring they have understood the main concepts and practical applications of perimeter calculation. Recapping the content helps reinforce students' memory and prepare them for the continued application of this knowledge. Moreover, discussing the relevance of the topic in everyday life reinforces the importance of mathematics as an essential tool in various situations.

Summary

To conclude the lesson, the teacher should summarize the main concepts covered about perimeter calculation in geometric figures such as triangles, squares, and pentagons. It should recap the formulas used and the methods of calculation, ensuring that students have a clear understanding of how to apply these concepts in different practical situations.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, the connection between theory and practice was established through activities simulating real situations where perimeter calculation is essential, such as in fence building and object design. Students were able to see the direct application of mathematical concepts in everyday contexts, which reinforced their understanding and valued theoretical learning.

Closing

It is essential for students to understand the importance of perimeter calculation in the real world. This knowledge not only helps in practical tasks such as measuring land and planning projects but also develops essential mathematical skills such as logical reasoning and problem-solving. Knowing how to calculate perimeters is a valuable tool that can be applied in various areas of life.