Educational resources that support mathematics instruction, particularly in geometry and measurement, are frequently sought by teachers, homeschooling parents, and educational content curators. Among these resources, "Mystery Perimeters" stands out as a specific instructional tool designed to help students understand perimeter calculations. This article details the nature of the resource, its alignment with educational standards, the background of its creator, Laura Candler, and the methods by which educators can access this and similar materials.
Understanding the Mystery Perimeters Resource
"Mystery Perimeters" is an educational product designed to teach students how to find the lengths of unlabeled sides of irregular polygons to calculate the total perimeter. The resource is structured to provide an engaging mini-lesson followed by practice activities.
The product includes two distinct versions to accommodate different measurement systems: * Customary Measurement: All dimensions are provided in inches. * Metric Measurement: All dimensions are provided in centimeters.
This dual-format approach allows educators to select the version that best fits their curriculum requirements. The resource is specifically aligned with 3rd grade measurement and geometry standards. However, it is also noted as a valuable review tool for students in grades 4 and 5, particularly for those who require a concrete, hands-on approach to grasp the concept of finding unknown polygon side lengths.
"Mystery Perimeters" is described as an expanded version of a lesson found in a larger resource titled "Exploring Perimeter." "Exploring Perimeter" is a comprehensive package containing over 60 pages of printables, step-by-step lessons, and hands-on activities suitable for grades 2 through 4. The broader scope of "Exploring Perimeter" makes it a tool for differentiating instruction across various skill levels.
Alignment with Educational Standards
A critical factor for educators selecting instructional materials is alignment with state and national standards. The "Mystery Perimeters" resource explicitly aligns with specific Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
The resource is aligned with the following standards: * 3.MD.B.4: This standard involves generating measurement data by measuring lengths of several objects to the nearest whole unit, or by making repeated measurements of the same object. It also includes representing whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number line diagram. * 3.MD.D.8: This standard focuses on solving 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 areas and different perimeters. * 4.MD.A.3: This standard applies the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real-world and mathematical problems.
By adhering to these standards, "Mystery Perimeters" provides educators with a targeted tool to meet specific curriculum goals.
About the Creator: Laura Candler
Laura Candler is the author of "Mystery Perimeters" and the owner of the Teaching Resources website (http://www.lauracandler.com). She is a retired elementary teacher with 30 years of classroom experience, having taught grades 4, 5, and 6.
Her professional background includes: * Education: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC Pembroke. * Awards and Certifications: She is a Milken Family Foundation Awardee and holds National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist. * Publications: She has authored over a dozen books for teachers and more than 100 ebooks.
Candler’s teaching philosophy emphasizes interactive strategies, hands-on math lessons, and the Reading Workshop approach. She shares her teaching strategies through her virtual File Cabinet and blog on her Teaching Resources website.
Accessing Free Educational Resources
Educators seeking free printables and lessons can access Laura Candler’s "File Cabinet." This online repository contains a collection of free materials created for her classroom and shared with others.
To stay updated on new additions to the File Cabinet, educators can sign up for the "Candler’s Classroom Connections" email newsletter. This newsletter provides access to freebies and resources for elementary educators, along with teaching tips.
The "Mystery Perimeters" resource is available for download. The specific URL structure suggests it is hosted directly within the File Cabinet or a similar section of her website. For example, a query for http www.lauracandler.com freebies mysteryperimeters.pdf indicates a direct path to a PDF file, likely the free version of the resource.
Purchasing Options and Bundles
While free versions may be available, "Mystery Perimeters" and related resources are also available for purchase. Laura Candler’s products are sold through the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) marketplace.
- Teachers Pay Teachers Store: Laura Candler maintains a store on TPT where she sells her educational resources. This platform is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources.
- Geometry Explorations Bundle: "Mystery Perimeters" is included in the "Geometry Explorations Bundle." Purchasing the bundle offers a 40% discount compared to buying the items individually. The bundle allows users to preview all included items.
- Seasonal Activities: Candler also offers seasonal activity packets, such as a 26-page "February Activities" packet, which includes math word problems, fraction lessons, poetry activities, and biography writing directions. This packet is part of a "Seasonal Activities Bundle" that offers a 50% savings.
Additional Educational Content Offered
Beyond perimeter and geometry, Laura Candler offers a variety of other educational resources covering multiple subjects.
Mathematics: * Geometry: Exploring the Basics: A foundational resource for geometry concepts. * Amazing Angles: Instructional material focused on understanding angles. * Polygon Explorations: Activities designed to teach students about polygons. * Polygon Sorting for Google Classroom: A digital resource for sorting polygons, compatible with Google Classroom.
Language Arts: * Possessive and Plural Nouns Level 2: A resource including four worksheets (with Form A and Form B variations) and answer keys. It is available in both digital and printable versions.
Science: * Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Sorting: A hands-on activity designed to help students understand geological processes that change the Earth's surface. It includes a teacher’s guide with a lesson plan, activity directions, illustrated sorting cards, and an answer key. This resource is available in both printable and Google Slides versions.
Conclusion
"Mystery Perimeters" is a targeted educational resource designed to teach perimeter calculation through hands-on activities, aligned with specific Common Core Standards for grades 3 through 5. Created by veteran educator Laura Candler, it is part of a larger suite of teaching materials available through her Teaching Resources website and Teachers Pay Teachers store. Educators can access this resource either as a free download via the File Cabinet or as part of a larger Geometry Explorations Bundle for enhanced value. By subscribing to Candler’s Classroom Connections newsletter, teachers can receive notifications of new free resources as they are released.