Look at the picture. There is a rectangle with its sides labelled, and beside it a little stack of building cubes.

For the rectangle we could ask: how far is it all the way around? Or we could ask: how many squares fit inside it? Those are two different questions about the same shape. And for the cubes there is a third question: how many cubes are stacked here?

Look at each shape in turn. For each one, be ready to say whether we should count around, count inside, or count cubes.

First a 5 by 3 rectangle we measure two ways. Then a 4 by 4 square where around and inside give the same number. Then an L-shape built from two rectangles, a 4 by 2 and a 2 by 2, where we count the squares inside. Then a small cube stack.

• A 6 cm by 2 cm rectangle needs a ribbon all the way around it. How long is the ribbon?
• A 3 cm by 3 cm square: first the distance around it, then the squares inside it.
• A box with 3 cubes on the bottom and 3 on top. How many cubes fill it?

• A rectangular sign 3 m by 2 m needs edging tape all the way round, how much tape?
• A garden patch is 4 squares by 3 squares, one slab on each square, how many slabs?
• The first play mat is 2 by 5, how many squares does it cover?
• The second play mat is 3 by 3, how many squares does it cover and which covers more?
• A box holds 4 cubes on the bottom and 4 on top, how many cubes fill it?