About this worksheet

Finding the perimeter of a rectangle or square — the total distance around the outside — is a foundational Year 4 measurement skill that connects directly to real-world tasks like fencing, framing and edging. This worksheet gives students structured practice with both the “add all sides” and “2 x (length + width)” approaches, building from direct calculation through to working backwards from a known perimeter.

The worksheet follows EduLift’s standard four-part structure. It opens with 16 fluency questions finding the perimeter of given rectangles and squares. Six core questions apply the skill to real contexts — gardens, pool covers, fencing, ribbon and skirting board — several requiring a second step such as a cost or a count. Four reasoning questions ask students to explain what perimeter means, correct a common misconception about adding only one length and one width, and evaluate a general claim that equal perimeters mean equal shapes. Three challenge questions ask students to work backwards to find a missing side, match perimeters between a square and a rectangle, and solve a multi-step ratio problem.

Every question and worked solution has been hand-checked for accuracy, and a full worked answer key is provided as a separate download, with clear marking guidance for the multi-step word and reasoning questions.

This worksheet is aligned to the WA Curriculum code WA4MMGME1 and is free to download for personal and classroom use.

Common errors we see in tutoring

• Adding only the length and width once instead of doubling the total
• Forgetting that all four sides of a square are equal before multiplying by 4
• Confusing perimeter (distance around) with area (space covered)
• Not accounting for a gap (like a doorway) that should be subtracted from the total