Students can explore how the area of a figure can change for a given perimeter. They analyze how the relationship between area and perimeter develops as the perimeter increases. An applet, a worksheet, a discussion of ideas, and extensions are included. (sw)

This teacher resource features a lesson description and an interactive applet to use in an investigation of area and perimeter. The lesson is intended for students in grades 6 – 8, but it could be used as a short activity for Construction Technologies students working with area and perimeter. Students review the exact meaning of the term area along with how to calculate area for random shapes with a fixed perimeter. Students observe the effect the shape of the perimeter has on the area of the object, and examine how the size of the perimeter affects the possible areas that can be contained by a shape’s given perimeter. Students use the applet to explore the relationship between area and perimeter and record their results on an answer sheet. (jrs)