Area and Perimeter Together on a Grid

⬛ Area & PerimeterAge 8-10MediumShapes 🇺🇸 3rd–4th Grade 🇬🇧 Year 3–5 🇦🇺 Year 3–4 🇮🇳 Class 3–4 📐 3.MD.C.7 📐 3.MD.D.8 📐 4.MD.A.3

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Can your child find both measurements for the same shape? In this free activity, children look at rectangles and L-shapes drawn on a grid and work out the area (how many squares cover the shape) and the perimeter (how far it is all the way around the edge).

Doing both together helps children see the difference clearly: area fills the inside, perimeter walks the border. Answers use units such as square centimetres for area and centimetres for perimeter, so children also learn to label their work correctly. Great for home practice, classroom warm-ups or a printable maths worksheet.

How to play

Look at the shape on the grid and read what the question asks for: area, perimeter, or both.
For area, count the full squares inside the shape, or split an L-shape into two rectangles and add the parts.
For perimeter, start at one corner and add every side length as you travel all the way around back to the start.
Type your answer and remember the unit: square units for area, plain units for perimeter.

This activity helps children aged 8 to 10 tell area and perimeter apart, a common mix-up at this stage. By switching between counting squares inside a shape and adding the lengths around it, your child builds a clear mental picture of each idea. L-shapes add a useful challenge: children learn to split a composite shape into two rectangles, find each area and add them, and to track every side when measuring the border. They also practise multiplication facts, careful addition and correct unit labels. Encourage your child to explain each answer aloud, and to check an L-shape by recounting the squares.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between area and perimeter?

Area is the space inside a shape, measured by counting squares or multiplying length by width. Perimeter is the distance all the way around the edge, found by adding every side length. Area uses square units, perimeter uses plain units.

What age is this area and perimeter activity for?

It suits children aged about 8 to 10, usually Class 3 to Class 5. Younger children can start with rectangles only, while confident learners enjoy the L-shapes, which need splitting into two rectangles before adding the areas.

How do you find the area of an L-shape?

Split the L-shape into two rectangles with a straight line. Find the area of each rectangle using length times width, then add the two answers together. Children can also check by counting the squares inside the whole shape.

Can I print these questions for classroom use?

Yes. The activity is free and printable, so parents and teachers can use it for homework, revision or a quick maths warm-up. Printed copies let children draw on the grids and mark the sides as they count.

More area & perimeter

⬛ Area and Perimeter of L-Shapes⬛ Area & Perimeter · Age 10-12 ⬛ Area of Rectangles: Length × Width⬛ Area & Perimeter · Age 8-10 ⬛ Perimeter of Rectangles on a Grid⬛ Area & Perimeter · Age 8-10 ⬛ Area: Count the Squares⬛ Area & Perimeter · Age 6-8

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Updated 5 Nov 2026