Perimeter of Complex Shapes: Math Strategy Game

Harness your students’ competitive sides as they play this deceptively simple dice game that lets them practice calculating the perimeter of complex shapes.

Each duo will end up creating a unique complex shape as they race to be the one to finish it first using their rolls.

Students can also calculate the area of their personal shape for extra math practice.

A sample round is included to teach the game to your students!

Instructions:

1) Player 1 chooses a starting spot, rolls, and draws a line that length (no diagonals).

2) Player 2 starts at the end of Player 1’s line, rolls, and draws a line that length.

3) Once the perimeter is over 40 units, the first player to close the shape wins!

4) If you can’t close it with the rolls you get, it is a tie.

5) BONUS: Calculate the area of your completed complex shape (close it yourself if the rolls did not complete it).

Grades to Use With:

This game works well for students in grades 3-7. Depending on where you live it may meet these standards:

CCSS 3.MD.C.5 Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement.

CCSS 3.MD.D.8 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.

British Columbia, Canada: Grade 6 Learning Standard: Perimeter of Complex Shapes

If you enjoy this math game, check out some others in my store:

Theoretical and Experimental Probability: Hands-on Math Task with Fractions and Percentages

Grocery Game: Estimating, Multiplying, and Adding Decimals

Pre-Algebra Expression Input/Output Game

3 Page PDF: Title Page, Sample Game, and Game Board for your students