Area and Perimeter Math Stations

I think I may have actually got my math stations up and running.  I bought the Math Stations for Middle Grades book by Laura Candler and her ideas for rotations were so simple yet so helpful! Thank you Laura Candler!  I decided to have three stations: Teacher, file folders, and math tubs.  Each station lasts 15 minutes with an extra five minute added on for housekeeping and switching stations.  Each student has a folder to store their station checklist and any papers acquired from the stations.  (This sheet can be found in Laura's book.)  My students and I compiled a chart of Math Station Expectations.  For a first time around, they did such a wonderful job!  I really believe they like the stations too.  I'm wondering though if I may have put too many options at the math tub station.  Tomorrow when I have the students rotate through, I am really going to stress the importance of trying all the activities at the tub station.  I may need to eliminate one of my tubs.  Right now I have three there: Pentominoes with area and perimeter, pattern blocks with symmetry, and tangrams with composing and decomposing shapes. Here is a link to my pentomino freebie if you missed it yesterday.  
Do you use stations? If so, leave a comment and tell me about your experience with them.  I love comments!

Area and Perimeter using Pentominoes

I began using math stations today.  One of my kids favorite stations was the area and perimeter station.  I filled a black tub with one inch square tiles and pentominoes.  Pentominoes have five squares hooked together on a flat plane in 12 different variations.  Students can do so many activities with them in relation to shapes, rotations, reflections, translations, area, and perimeter.  I created a set of pentominoes which you can download for free. Click here for your free download. Ideas for using the pentominoes includes:

1. finding the area and perimeter of each pentomino
2. using the pentominoes to cover a given shape (like a puzzle)
3. combine the pentominoes together to create a shape with a given area
4. combine the pentominoes together to create a shape with a given perimeter
5. using the pentominoes to cover a given shape and then find the area and perimeter

Do you use pentominoes in your classroom? If so, do you have an idea you can share? I would love for you to leave a comment and let us know.