- Definition
Circumference is simply the measurement of the distance all the way around the outside edge of a circle.
The length of the paper label wrapped around a soup can is its circumference.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Circumference is like the length of a bicycle tire's rubber tread if you were to unroll it and lay it flat.
Ask your child: How could you measure the distance around this can with a piece of string?
Common mix-up: Kids often confuse circumference (the distance around) with diameter (the distance across). Circumference is the length of the circle's boundary, not the line straight through its middle.
Examples
- The distance a wheel travels in one full rotation.
- The length of the metal rim on a basketball hoop.
- The measurement around the outside edge of a circular plate.
circumference is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
