Circles

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 4
Activity Page ▶ pages 6
Practice Page ▶ page 7
Grade Level: 4-6

Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 8
page 9 - 10
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 4–6
Objectives:
1. Display the circular objects or images and ask students:
What do all of these have in common? The students will be able to define and identify
the diameter, radius, and circumference of a
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce the area of a circle. The students will be able to correctly use
circle, and the terms related such as circumference, radius, the formula to find the area of a circle.
and diameter. Explain to students that finding the area
of a circle is different than finding the area of rectangles. Common Core State Standards:
3. Ask the students if they know what pi means? None Listed for Grade Levels
4. Allow for responses and discussion. Review pi if necessary. Class Sessions (45 minutes):
5. Distribute Circles content pages. Read and review the 1 – 2 class sessions
information with the students. Save the final question for
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
lesson closing. (Remind students that many circular items
are actually 3-dimensional, and they will be measuring Circles content pages (2), Activity pages (2),
the tops of items during the lesson.) Use the additional Practice page, Homework page
resources to enhance understanding.
Student Supplies:
6. Distribute the Activity pages. Read and review the
calculator (optional), scissors, colored pencils,
instructions. Distribute the supplies. Once completed,
string, ruler, handouts
review the students’ answers. They should be the same
for each circle. Prepare Ahead of Time:
7. Assign groups of students to join and create their circles Circular objects (or images of) for lesson opening.
of circles. Display the circles in the classroom or other Supplies for activity, and optional compasses.
area of the school. Copy handouts.
8. Distribute the Practice page. Check and review the Options for Lesson:
students’ responses.
For the lesson opening or closing, students go
9. Distribute the Homework page. The next day allow students outdoors and try to form a perfect circle. For the
to share some of the at-home items and the measurements activity, connect all the strings of circles to create
of the circle. (Responses will vary.) one large circle of circles. The homework is done
as an in-class assignment; students search the
10. Ask the students the following question: What is your
classroom or other areas of the school or outdoors
favorite thing in life that involves, or includes a circle? Why?
for circle examples. Distribute compasses and
11. Allow for responses and discussion. Ask the students how allow students to make circles to exchange with
they can find the area of that circle and its circumference. a partner to find circle measurements. Introduce
the fraction, 22/7 as pi.
12. Allow the students to orally explain the procedure and
formula.

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 Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces a circle to students, and the difference between circumference, radius, and diameter.
The lesson also introduces the formula for the area of a circle, which may be used for older students. This
will be determined by the level of your students and their understanding of a formula and how to use it.
Students should know how to multiply by decimals, and understand pi and squares. The more practice the
better the students will understand circles.
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Additional Resources:
CONTENT:
http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/facts/geometry/circles.html
http://www.ducksters.com/kidsmath/circle.php
http://www.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Circle
http://quatr.us/math/geometry/circle.htm
https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/circle.html

WORKSHEETS:
http://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/circles.php
http://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/area-circumference.php
http://www.kidslearningstation.com/shapes/circles-worksheet.htm
http://www.math-aids.com/Geometry/Circles/
http://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets/sixth-grade-6/circles
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/circle.php

VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb1HYyBfLfc (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-D_z9GatbU (2 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXRuZhMI7Ks (8 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-cawByg2aA (8 min)

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Circles
Circles are everywhere. Sometimes you may find yourself
walking in circles. People usually do not walk in squares or rectangles. Circles are
important shapes in geometry. Mathematically, a circle is a shape made up of an infinite number of points
on a flat surface or plane, that are the same distance from a given point.
You can choose any given point and measure the same distance to other points, connect those end points
(blue circle) and make a circle.
2. Measure other points
an equal distance from
How to Make a Circle
the starting point. (Here,
4 are drawn.)

1. Choose a point.

3. Connect the points using a

compass. You’ve made a circle.
There are several parts of a circle and each part can
also be measured using a formula or a ruler.
Parts of a Circle

Circumference: The distance around a circle. It is similar to a perimeter of a shape.

Diameter: The distance across the center of a circle. Twice the length of the radius.

Radius: The distance from the center of the circle to the edge. Half the diameter.

Area: It is the amount of space inside the circle.

Circle Formulas Finding the measurements for each part of a circle often involves using a formula.
RADIUS DIAMETER AREA CIRCUMFERENCE
The radius (r) can be found by The diameter (d) can be found The area (A) is the
The circumference (C) is the
measuring the distance from by measuring the distance measurement inside the
measurement around the
the center point to the edge. across the center of the circle. circle. To find area, square
outside of the circle. To find
The radius can also be found The diameter also is equal to the radius (r x r) and multiply
the circumference, measure
by dividing the diameter (d) two times the radius (r). the result by pi (3.14).
the diameter (d) by pi (3.14).
by two. d = 2 x r 2
A = πr or 3.14 x (r x r)
r = d/2 or r ÷ 2 C = π x d or 3.14 x d

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Using the formulas is not difficult. To find the area or circumference of a circle, you will either need the
diameter or radius. Once you identify the diameter or radius, you can discover the area or circumference.
Here are some examples related to finding the radius, diameter, circumference, and area of a circle.

Finding Circle Measurements

FIND DIAMETER FIND RADIUS FIND CIRCUMFERENCE FIND AREA

d= 8 cm d= 5 ft
r = 7 in r = 3 m

2
d = 2 x r r = d ÷ 2 C = π x d A = πr or 3.14 x (r x r)
2
d = 2 x 7 = 14 inches r = 8 ÷ 2 = 4 cm C = 3.14 x 5 = 15.70 feet A = 3.14 x 3 = 3.14 x 9 = 28.26 m

Circles are certainly everywhere, and every circle has a diameter, radius, circumference, and area. Cutting
a pizza in half requires a line similar to a diameter, two radiuses make up the sides of a slice of pizza, the
circumference is the distance around the outside of the crust, and if you eat the entire pizza, the top is the
area. The next time you eat pizza or pie or cake, think about the different parts of a circle.
What is your favorite thing in life that involves or includes a circle? Why?

What is your favorite thing in life that involves

or includes a circle? Why?

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
1. Cut apart each of the circles. Find the radius, diameter, circumference, and the area of each.
2. Write the results on the circle. Shade the circles a different color or draw on each. Be creative.
3. String the circles together, attaching each using tape or making a hole.
4. Join the circles with the circles of other students in the class, and make a circle of circles.
5. Your teacher will use them to decorate the classroom.

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Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Find the measurements for each circle.

d= 10
r = 1.5 r = 9

r = r = r =

d = d = d =

C = C = C =
A = A = A =

d = 21
r = 1 r = 0.5

r = r = r =
d = d = d =

C = C = C =
A = A = A =

d = 33 d= 12
r = 8

r = r = r =

d = d = d =
C = C = C =
A = A = A =

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Circles at Home – Search through your home and find 15 objects containing a circle. (For example,
a dish.) In the chart below, list the item, and the measurements of each circle part.

ITEM Radius Diameter Circumference Area

10

11

12

13

14

15

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 Activity Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
1. Cut apart each of the circles. Find the radius, diameter, circumference, and the area of each.
2. Write the results on the circle. Shade the circles a different color or draw on each. Be creative.
3. String the circles together, attaching each using tape or making a hole.
4. Join the circles with the circles of other students in the class, and make a circle of circles.
5. Your teacher will use them to decorate the classroom.
Answers for each circle, if measured correctly, smallest to the largest:

Radius Diameter Circumference Area

2 4 12.56 12.56
3 6 18.85 28.27
4 8 25.13 50.26
5 10 31.42 78.54
7.5 15 47.12 176.72
Rounded to nearest hundredth.

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Find the measurements for each circle. (Rounded to the nearest hundredth.)

d= 10
r = 1.5 r = 9

r = 1.5 r = 5 r = 9

d = 3 d = 10 d = 18

C = 9.42 C = 31.42 C = 56.55

A = 7.07 A = 78.54 A = 254.47

d = 21
r = 1 r = 0.5

r = 10.5 r = 1 r = 0.5

d = 21 d = 2 d = 1

C = 65.97 C = 6.28 C = 3.14

A = 346.36 A = 3.14 A = 0.79

d = 33 d= 12
r = 8

r = 16.5 r = 8 r = 6

d = 33 d = 16 d = 12

C = 103.67 C = 50.27 C = 37.7

A = 855.3 A = 201.06 A = 113.1

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