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https://www.scoilnet.ie/uploads/resources/24745/24468.pdf

Sample game teachers can use to introduce and consolidate 2D shape knowledge.

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https://www.scoilnet.ie/uploads/resources/24739/24462.pdf

Another sample activity idea with lollipop sticks for teachers to allow students to explore properties of 2D shapes.

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https://www.haveyougotmathseyes.com/resources/

Resource for teachers to use to show students examples of 2D shapes in the real world.

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A useful geoboard resource teachers can use on the IWB to demonstrate 2D shape properties.

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Geoboard is a tool for mathematical exploration. Stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons, and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more.

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2D shape activity where children make a pizza out of various 2D shapes - exploration and shape recognition

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Shape Collage Pizza Art Lesson Plan for Elementary School

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Kids can make a shape collage pizza out of pieces of construction paper.

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https://www.scoilnet.ie/uploads/resources/24379/24102.ppt

Quiz teachers can use for assessment or consolidation of knowledge.

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https://mathstory.com/geometry-music-videos/

Website with various songs about 2D shapes teachers can use to motivate learning and make learning more enjoyable for younger children.

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https://apps.mathlearningcenter.org/pattern-shapes/

IWB resource teachers can use to demonstrate shapes and their properties.

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https://www.scoilnet.ie/uploads/resources/19395/19089.docx

Sample maths station idea for consolidating 2D shape knowledge from PDST.

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Various activity ideas and inspiration for teachers to consolidate and motivate student learning

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A selection of fun, hands-on math activities for learning about 2D and 3D shapes.
When we think of early mathematical learning, we typically think firstly of numbers. But there is a whole other world of mathematics to enjoy and explore and that is the world of shapes! This post includes fifteen ideas for learning about 2D and 3D shapes (and their properties) in fun and 'hands on' ways!

15 Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning About 2D and 3D shapes
Ideas for Learning About 2-Dimensional Shapes
Between the ages of two and four years, children typically begin to learn the names of simple 2D shapes incidentally; generally learning about circles, squares and triangles to begin with. We see them in picture books, on TV shows and in every day life (does anyone else's toddler insist on their sandwiches being cut into a certain shape?) In their first years of school children will build on this knowledge, learning about rectangles, ovals, hexagons, pentagons and octagons, just to name a few.
1. Head Off On a Shape Hunt
A great way to kick start learning about shapes (whether it be at school or home) is with a 'shape hunt' - exploring and identifying shapes in our environment and everyday life. You can go on a shape hunt around your house, backyard, classroom or neighbourhood. Older children can take a checklist or paper to record their findings on, while younger children will enjoy discussing what you see as you go. Photographing the shapes you find is another great idea, with the photos being perfect for compiling into your very own shape book.
2. Popstick Play
Popsticks and matchsticks are such versatile learning materials. They make a great resource for creating 2D shapes.
3. Self Correcting Popstick Puzzle
Take the above activity one step further and make a self correcting puzzle by using the one colour for each shape, writing the name of the shape on each popstick and including the number of sides/corners. This makes a great busy bag.
4. Pipe Cleaner Creations
Pipe cleaners provide a great workout for finger muscles. They can be bent and twisted to create a variety of 2D shapes. As a variation, make the shapes larger by using one pipe cleaner for each side of the shape.

Playdough is also a useful tool for exploring shapes. Adding a set of geometric cookie cutters ( like this one) to playdough play is a super easy way to add shapes to your day.
5. Playdough Fun 6. Shape Collages
Kindergarten and school aged children will have lots of fun creating pictures with shapes. I created these two as example,s using a variety of shapes cut from textured papers and buttons.

Pattern blocks are one of my favourite classroom materials. Not only are children learning about 2D shapes when they play with them, but also other mathematical concepts such as symmetry, tessellation, pattern, sorting, counting and so much more. This activity could either be left unstructured for the children to make their own pictures, patterns and shapes, or you can use pattern block activity cards as a guide.
7. Pretty Pattern Blocks
Here's a cute little song to help preschoolers learn 2D shapes. It works best with a group of children, with everyone holding a shape (sing to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It).

If you're holding a square stand up!
If you're holding a square stand up!
If you're holding a square, if you're holding a square
If you're holding a square stand up.

Repeat with other shapes

8. Sing About Shapes
When I'm introducing the topic of shapes to my class, I always start with a 'feely bag'. The idea being that the children feel the shapes in the bag without looking, trying to identify each shape using only their sense of touch. We discuss - How does it feel? Does it have pointy corners? Does it feel round? Once the children are familiar with names of the shapes, it's fun to guess the shape they're holding before revealing it!
Fun Ideas for Learning About 3-Dimensional Shapes 9. Fantastic Feely Bags
Generally speaking in the first year of school you could expect your child to learn the shapes pictured above; rectangular prism, pyramid, cylinder, cone, cube and sphere. 3D wooden blocks are a great resource for talking about the features of 3D shapes (and the 2D shapes they are made up of).
10. Wonderful Wooden Blocks
As children learn 3D shapes, it's fun to explore how they move and interact with each other. Set up a simple ramp and test each shape to see if it rolls down the hill or slides? Next, test each shape to see if it can be stacked easily on top of another shape. Explore your child's understanding of why a shape does (or does not) roll, slide or stack.

Add matchsticks to playdough and invite children to create 2D and 3D shapes.
11. Test It: Stack, Roll or Slide?
Moulding 3D Shapes from playdough or kinetic sand is a fun, hands-on challenge.
12. 3D Playdough Shapes

School aged children can begin to explore the concept of 'nets'. A net is a 3D shape flattened out. These plastic polydrons are a fantastic tool to teach this concept. Making your own die cube is a great place to start! (Once again we see 3D shapes in our everyday life). Here's a link to a free die template printable from Teachers Pay Teachers.
13. 3D Shape Models
Finally here's a simple 3D shape rhyme to help children connect the name of the shape to real life objects.

3D Shapes are fat not flat
A cone is like a party hat
A sphere is a bouncy ball
A prism is a building tall
A cylinder is like a can of pop
A cube is like the dice you drop
3D shapes are here and there
3D shapes are everywhere!

14. Nifty Nets
You may also like;

15. 3D Shape Rhyme
Lauren Hunt is an Early Childhood Teacher who currently works part time teaching children in their first year of school. She is also mum to a two year old daughter. Lauren is passionate about play-based, hands-on learning and is certainly kept busy by her energetic toddler!
What are your favourite activity ideas for learning about 2D and 3D shapes?

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15 Fun, Hands On Activities for Learning About 2D and 3D Shapes

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A selection of fun, hands-on math activities for learning about 2D and 3D shapes. When we think of early mathematical learning, we typically think firstly of numbers. But there is a whole other world of mathematics to enjoy and explore and that is the world of shapes!

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https://esolonline.tki.org.nz/ESOL-Online/Planning-for-my-students-needs/Resources-for-planning/Teaching-and-learning-sequences/Focus-on-English/Shapes/2D-shapes

Website with various sample lesson plans and additional supports for teaching 2D shapes.

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http://www.teachertypes.com/2018/04/top-tips-for-teaching-shape.html

Advice and tips for teaching the foundation knowledge of 2D shapes in fun and motivating ways.

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Today we're talking about SHAPES!

It's probably the second biggest Mathematics unit in your term after Number. Children are usually exposed to the basic 2D shapes well before they start school (quite often thanks to the Play School windows), but it's so important that we as Junior Primary teachers give them a good foundation of both 2D and 3D shapes. As I was planning this post, and how to incorporate some Teach Starter resources, I came up with four key points to keep in mind when planning learning experiences for young children.

Make it hands on

Make it real life

Make it purposeful

and make it fun.

This is a sponsored post as part of my Brand Ambassadorship with Teach Starter.

Make it Hands On

To gain a deep understanding of shape - children need to hold them, explore them, feel, touch and use their senses. This is particularly important when they are learning the difference between 2D and 3D shape (I always say to my class "A 2D shape is flat like a piece of paper, and a 3D shape is something you can hold in your hand, like a ball or a box").

My class are always drawn to the play dough table when I put it out, so I'm sure they'll love these 2D shape play dough mats. In this resource comes circle, square, triangle, star, pentagon and hexagon with one large shape and three small shapes. Some cookie cutters added to this activity would give children the option of creating the shapes in different ways and further provoke their thinking.

I would also like to try providing a variety of loose parts with these mats instead of the play dough. By ensuring that the loose parts you provide are a variety of different shapes and sizes themselves, the children can experiment with which materials work best for each shape (e.g. a long straight peg would work for the edge of a square, where as small pebbles would work better for a circle).

Another fantastic STEM idea is to combine the play dough with your loose parts, like this...

Make it Real Life

Another really great starting point when you are introducing a unit for work on shapes is to look for shapes that occur in your environment; whether it be in the home, the classroom, the school yard or the wider community. Use these handy posters from Teach Starter attached to a clip board, and tick off or record (depending on the age of the child) the shapes you see around you. We like to call this a "shape walk" or a "shape hunt"... If your kids are a fan of We're going on a bear hunt, simply replace the word 'bear' with the word 'shape' as you are walking around and exploring.

Make it Purposeful

I attended a Maths professional development day last year, and the number one thing I took away from it was to make maths purposeful for young children. Meaning; give them a job to do. Make them feel important, useful and helpful. Let them see the relevance in the task you have assigned to them.

This is why I love this design a cubby house idea! I believe it's intended for Year 1/2s but younger ones could certainly attempt it on a simpler level. What kid wouldn't want to design their own cubby house? The students are asked to design it using 2D shapes, and colour the shapes in according to the instructions. They are then required to present their design to their classmates and complete a self reflection.

Make it Fun!

Above all, the wise words of Reggio Emilia educators "Nothing without joy" is always at the back of my mind, and your shape unit should be filled with fun! Even something as simple as a rotation lesson where the children spend 10 minutes at each activity can work really well. Perhaps one group is tracing and labelling 2D shapes on paper, one group is constructing a tower with building blocks, one group can sort objects by their shape, another group is creating larger shapes with pattern blocks while the last group is working collaboratively to build a castle with magnetic tiles. These are my favourite types of lessons where every learning minute is maximised! And the kids love it too!

How do you approach teaching shape to your students? I've love to hear your ideas.

Lauren

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Today we're talking about SHAPES! It's probably the second biggest Mathematics unit in your term after Number. Children are usually exposed to the basic 2D shapes well before they start school (quite often thanks to the Play School windows), but it's so important that we as Junior Primary teachers give them a good foundation of both 2D and 3D shapes.

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https://nrich.maths.org/2907

Sample challenge that can be carried out  in group work orally/on paper or with real resources/materials - consolidation of shape properties

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Video of 2D shape lesson demonstrations by primary teachers, with guided discussion and focus questions - professional development resource

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A grade one and two teacher explores the language of 2D shapes and their features with her students. The teacher aims to build the student's vocabulary around shapes and their features and also the location of objects. The lesson is adapted from an approach outlined by a maths consultant and included in the curriculum document developed by three local schools in their professional learning community. The teacher has adapted the lesson for her class, making it more kinesthetic and including consolidation, enabling and extending tasks.

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A grade one and two teacher explores the language of 2D shapes and their features with her students. The teacher aims to build the student's vocabulary around shapes and their features and also the location of objects.

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Song about 2D shapes children can listen to and learn about shapes - motivation and engagement

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The Singing Walrus - English Songs For Kids

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Shapes song for kids | The Singing Walrus

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Resource for children to assess their knowledge of shapes and their properties.

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Updated December 2017 - this is a new version that will work on a tablet or computer.

Sort a variety of 2D shapes on a Venn diagram. Sort by one or two conditions. Sort triangles - scalene, equilateral and isosceles. Sort quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons and octagons, as well as parallelograms, rhombus, kites and trapeziums. Also sort according to a shapes properties such as acute, obtuse, reflex or right angles and symmetry or whether it is a regular shape.
For more resources involving sorting shapes and numbers click here. For more shape and space resources click here.
Scan to open this game on a mobile device. Right-click to copy and paste it onto a homework sheet.

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Sort a variety of 2-D shapes on a Carroll diagram. Sort by one or two conditions. Sort triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons and octagons, as well as parallelogram, rhombus, kite and trapezium. Also sort according to a shapes propertie

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Another variation on sorting 2D shapes for assessing shape properties and knowledge for students

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1

QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

This resource is designed to develop an understanding of the sorting of 2D shapes on a Carroll diagram using particular properties as criteria. Shapes are sorted by two varying criteria.

Each of the four levels of difficulty can help children to identify and know the names of 2D shapes of different colours, sizes and orientations. Levels 3 and 4 support the understanding of the properties of regular and irregular 2D shapes, and right angles.

N.B. Squares are classed as rectangles in this game. Too often children are taught to categorise rectangles and squares differently when they should be learning that squares are really 'square rectangles'. This is recognised in the National Curriculum for England in Year 1 Statutory requirements.

AGE

6-11 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Data Handling Shapes

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2D Shapes Sorting using Carroll Diagrams

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Compare and sort 2D shapes on to Carroll diagrams with two criteria. There are four levels of difficulty. For 6 to 11 year olds. The resource works well on an interactive whiteboard.

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https://www.mathplayground.com/tangram_puzzles.html

Online game for student to explore shape and shape rotation

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An online game for Shape recognition skills and exploring shape patterns.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Shape Patterns is a sequencing game where you need to complete the pattern of different coloured 2D shapes. It is a multiple choice game with three levels of difficulty. It is excellent for shape recognition and for problem solving.

In the easier levels you need to continue the pattern, but in the more challenging level 3, you are presented with a sequence with the missing element in different positions. This level in particular, is an excellent problem solving activity.

As with all of our games, Shape Patterns works well on an interactive whiteboard.

AGE

3-8 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Shapes Sequencing

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Shapes patterns is a free, shapes sequencing game where children need to complete a sequence of different coloured 2D shapes. For children from 3 to 8 years.

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https://www.mathgames.com/skill/1.3-compare-sides-and-corners

Another game for online pupil assessment of 2D shape properties.

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https://www.mathgames.com/skill/5.104-which-shape-is-described

Assessment method - online game for assessing properties

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This resource provides some free building activities that encourages free exploration of shapes by creating different pictures and images using various 2D shapes.

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All Shapegrams Shapegrams are labeled with colors, indicating recommended skill levels. The Scope and Sequence Chart can help teachers see what tools and techniques are introduced and practiced in each Shapegram.🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Beginning Blue⬜️🟩⬜️⬜️⬜️ Growing Green⬜️⬜️🟪⬜️⬜️ Progressing Purple⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥⬜️

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free exploration tool of 2D shapes - creating patterns, designs etc.

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Fun and motivating online game for consolidating shape knowledge.

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Shape Monsters - 2D Shapes Matching Game

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An interactive, maths 2D shapes game for young children who are learning the names of basic shapes. Children identify shapes by comparison and the Shape Monsters tell them the names of the shapes.

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https://www.st-johns-pri.bham.sch.uk/2d-shapes/

Free printable resource for parents - at home 2D shape activity.

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Supports and resources for helping develop their child's 2D shape knowledge at home

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At home activity for introducing 2D shapes for parents

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One of my favourite days in February (after Valentine's day of course) is Pancake Day - ok "Shrove Tuesday" but I'm going to call it Pancake Day anyhow, and this week's #playfulpreschool theme is all about Pancakes. We're creating, learning and developing skills with activities created around the theme of Pancakes. You can go to the end of the post to find out the other great ideas linked up this week. With the pancake theme, and working on another area of Maths, we're combining gross motor skills and learning about shapes with a fun Pancake Toss Shape Game that had T running every which way as she learnt.

Kids that are kinaesthetic learners learn best when moving and jumping around. Although this isn't T's principle learning style, she really does enjoy learning this way, and it helps especially on these wet and dreary winter days when outdoor time is at a minimum. With the pancake toss shape game, as usual, I'm using resources that we have in the house, and that most families have on hand. Because T had so much fun I'm remaking our pancakes at the moment with felt so that they will last longer, but the paper version here works well too.

What You'll Find on This Page

Materials needed

Paper
Crayons or Marker Pens
Scissors
Toy or light weight child sized frying pan (our toy kitchen had the perfect sized one).

Learning objectives for Pancake Toss Shape Game

Work on Catching an object

Identification of Circle, Oval, Triangle, Rectangle and Square

Identification of Colours

Looking to work on Numbers within the same theme then check out our Stacking Pancake Number Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers to play.

Preparation

You will need to make your pancakes first: With a piece of paper folded in 2 or 4 (check the size matches your frying pan), draw an irregular pancake shape on the paper and cut out.

I made 10 pancakes in total. On each pancake I drew one of 5 shapes so we had 2 copies of each shape.

Then, choosing 5 different colours, I quickly coloured them in making sure that none of the same shapes were the same colour.

Check out these other ideas for shape games:

Playing the Pancake Toss Shape Game.

With the pancake face down in the pan, T tossed it into the air. As it fell she tried to catch it. Believe me, this is tricky but the thicker the paper the easier it is to catch.

When she caught the pancake she flipped it over using her toy kitchen spatula so the shape was visible. After our cooking with kids sausage and bean casserole this week, she knows how to use it well because she repeatedly flipped the sausages in the pan.

With the shape visible she identified which shape it was as well as the colour of the shape, and then we switched it for a different shape.

More Pancake Preschool Creative and Learning Activities

Find out what fun the other #playfulpreschool bloggers have been up to this week with their pancake inspired activities below.

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One of my favourite days in February (after Valentine's day of course) is Pancake Day - ok "Shrove Tuesday" but I'm going to call it Pancake Day anyhow, and this week's #playfulpreschool theme is all about Pancakes. We're creating, learning and developing skills with activities created around the theme of Pancakes.

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An explanation of what children will be learning in school in relation to shape, so parents can continue to construct and consolidate knowledge at home.

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Children start learning about 2D shapes from as early as year 1 in primary school, so here is everything you need to know to support them. We cover the the two-dimensional shapes children will need to have mastered in each year group from the familiar such as squares and triangles to the less familiar polygons. We also look at the properties of 2D shape that children are expected to know.
Let's kick off with some definitions!

What are 2D shapes?

2D shapes are shapes with two dimensions, such as width and height. An example of a 2D shape is a rectangle or a circle. 2D shapes are flat and cannot be physically held, because they have no depth; a 2D shape is completely flat.

What does 2D mean?

2D in 2D shapes stands for 2-dimensional. We normally talk about dimensions as measurements in a direction. Examples of dimensions include length, width or breadth, depth and height.

The thin plastic shapes that are sometimes used to represent common 2D shapes are actually 3D because they do have depth to them - even if it's very small.

Which 2D shapes do children learn about?

In primary school, children will learn about the following 2d shapes: polygons, regular and irregular shapes.

A polygon is a 2D shape with straight sides.

A regular shape has all sides the same length and all interior angles the same size.

An irregular shape has different length sides and/or interior angles.

What are the properties of 2D shapes?

The properties of 2D shapes refer to their sides and angles. When we move on to 3D shapes we talk about faces, edges and vertices.

Learning 2D shapes through Third Space Learning's online interventions

Properties of 2D shapes

As well as the names, children need to know the properties of 2D shapes as listed below and in the printable table.

Circles

A circle has 1 curved side

A semi-circle has 2 sides; 1 curved side and 1 straight side. The full arc is a 180° angle.

Triangles (3-sided shapes)

An equilateral triangle is a regular triangle and each angle equals 60°.

A right-angled triangle is any triangle with one right angle.

A scalene triangle is an irregular triangle. All sides and angles are different.

An isosceles triangle has two sides and two angles that are the same.

Quadrilaterals (4-sided shapes)

A square is a regular quadrilateral and each angle equals 90°.

A kite has two pairs of equal-length sides and the diagonals cross at right-angles.

A rectangle has two pairs of parallel straight lines and each angle equals 90°.

A rhombus has two pairs of parallel lines, as well as equal sides and opposite equal angles.

A trapezium has one pair of parallel lines.

A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel lines and opposite equal angles.

Polygons or Regular Polygons

A pentagon is any shape with 5 sides. The interior angles add up to 540°.

A hexagon is any shape with 6 sides. The interior angles add up to 720°.

A heptagon or septagon is any shape with 7 sides. The interior angles add up to 900°.

An octagon is any shape with 8 sides. The interior angles add up to 1080°.

A nonagon is any shape with 9 sides. The interior angles add up to 1260°.

A decagon is any shape with 10 sides. The interior angles add up to 1440°.

Properties of 2D shapes - printable

Read more: 2D And 3D Shapes: Properties of Shapes

When do children learn about 2D shapes in primary school?

Geometry is taught in every year group in KS1 and KS2. Here's what the National Curriculum expects to be taught about 2D shapes:

2D shapes in Year 1
Year 1 pupils should be able to:

Recognise and name common 2-D and 3-D shapes, including: 2-D shapes [for example, rectangles (including squares), circles and triangles]; 3-D shapes [for example, cuboids (including cubes), pyramids and spheres].

Non-statutory guidance: Pupils handle common 2-D and 3-D shapes, naming these and related everyday objects fluently. They recognise these shapes in different orientations and sizes, and know that rectangles, triangles, cuboids and pyramids are not always similar to each other.

2D shapes in Year 2
Year 2 pupils should be able to:

Identify and describe the properties of 2-D shapes, including the number of sides and line symmetry in a vertical line.

Identify and describe the properties of 3-D shapes, including the number of edges, vertices and faces.

Identify 2-D shapes on the surface of 3-D shapes, [for example, a circle on a cylinder and a triangle on a pyramid]

Compare and sort common 2-D and 3-D shapes and everyday objects.

Non-statutory guidance: Pupils handle and name a wide variety of common 2-D and 3-D shapes, including quadrilaterals and polygons, and cuboids, prisms and cones, and identify the properties of each shape (for example, number of sides, number of faces). Pupils identify, compare and sort shapes on the basis of their properties and use vocabulary precisely, such as sides, edges, vertices and faces.

2D shapes in Year 3
Year 3 pupils should be able to:

Draw 2-D shapes and make 3-D shapes using modelling materials and recognise 3-D shapes in different orientations and describe them.

Non-statutory guidance: Pupils' knowledge of the properties of shapes is extended at this stage to symmetrical and non-symmetrical polygons and polyhedra. Pupils extend their use of the properties of shapes. They should be able to describe the properties of 2-D and 3-D shapes using accurate language, including lengths of lines and acute and obtuse for angles greater or lesser than a right angle.

2D shapes in Year 4
Year 4 pupils should be able to:

Identify lines of symmetry in 2-D shapes presented in different orientations.

Non-statutory guidance: Pupils continue to classify shapes using geometrical properties, extending to classifying different triangles (for example, isosceles, equilateral, scalene) and quadrilaterals (for example, parallelogram, rhombus, trapezium).

2D shapes in Year 5
Year 5 pupils should be able to:

Identify 3-D shapes, including cubes and other cuboids, from 2-D representations and distinguish between regular and irregular polygons based on reasoning about equal sides and angles.

2D shapes in Year 6
Year 6 pupils should be able to:

Draw 2-D shapes using given dimensions and angles and recognise, describe and build simple 3-D shapes, including making nets.

How do 2D shapes relate to other areas of maths?

When working with fractions, children will often have to shade a fraction of a shape. They will have to relate their understanding of perimeter and area to 2D shapes, and they may be required to reflect or translate 2D shapes on a coordinate grid.

2D shapes questions
1. In a quadrilateral, three angles measure 110, 70 and 20 degrees. How many degrees in the missing angle? 2. Which shape has 2 pairs of parallel sides, 2 acute and 2 obtuse angles and no lines of symmetry? (Answer: parallelogram) 3. Which shape is the odd one out? Why?

(Answer: The scalene triangle is the odd one out as it is the only shape NOT to have a right angle in it.)
2D shapes worksheets

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What Are 2D Shapes And Which 2D Shapes Should Kids Learn At Primary School?

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Children start learning about 2D shapes from as early as year 1 in primary school, so here is everything you need to know to support them. We cover the the two-dimensional shapes children will need to have mastered in each year group from the familiar such as squares and triangles to the less familiar polygons.

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Sample 2D shape activities and games parents can carry out at home with their child

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Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. This readies them for geometry in the years ahead, but it's also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. We've rounded up our favorite activities for learning shapes, both 2-D and 3-D. They all work well in the classroom or at home.

1. Start with an anchor chart

Colorful anchor charts like these are terrific reference tools for kids learning shapes. Have kids help you come up with examples for each one.

Learn more: A Spoonful of Learning/ Kindergarten Kindergarten

2. Sort items by shape

Collect items from around the classroom or house, then sort them by their shapes. This is a fun way for kids to realize that the world around them is full of circles, squares, triangles, and more.

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Shape-Sorting

3. Snack on some shapes

Everyone loves a learning activity you can eat! Some food items are already the perfect shape; for others, you'll have to get a little creative.

Learn more: Chieu Anh Urban

4. Print with shape blocks

Grab your shape blocks and some washable paint, then stamp shapes to form a design or picture.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

5. Go on a shape hunt

These "magnifying glasses" make an adventure of learning shapes! Tip: Laminate them for long-term use.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

6. Hop along a shape maze

Use sidewalk chalk to lay out a shape maze on the playground or driveway. Choose a shape and hop from one to the next, or call out a different shape for every jump!

Learn more: Creative Family Fun

7. Assemble a truck from shapes

Cut out a variety of shapes (excellent scissors skills practice!), then assemble a series of trucks and other vehicles.

Learn more: Little Family Fun

8. Stretch out shapes on geoboards

Teachers and kids love geoboards, and they're a great tool for learning shapes. Give students example cards to follow, or ask them to figure out the method on their own.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones' Creation Station

9. Drive on shaped roads

Use these free printable road mats to work on shapes. Bonus: Make your own road shapes from sentence strips!

Learn more: PK Preschool Mom

10. Find shapes in nature

Take your shape hunt outside and look for circles, rectangles, and more in nature. For another fun activity, gather items and use them to make shapes too.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

11. Put together craft stick shapes

Add Velcro dots to the ends of wood craft sticks for quick and easy math toys. Write the names of each shape on the sticks for a self-correcting center activity.

Learn more: Surviving a Teacher's Salary

12. Blow 3-D shape bubbles

This is a STEM activity that's sure to fascinate everyone. Make 3-D shapes from straws and pipe cleaners, then dip them in a bubble solution to create tensile bubbles. So cool!

Learn more: Babble Dabble Do

13. Prep a shape pizza

Cover a paper plate "pizza" with lots of shape toppings, then count the number of each. Simple, but lots of fun and very effective.

Learn more: Mrs. Thompson's Treasures

14. Construct shapes from toothpicks and Play-Doh

This is an excellent STEM challenge: how many shapes can you make using toothpicks and Play-Doh? Marshmallows work well for this activity too.

Learn more: Childhood 101

15. Outline shapes with stickers

Kids adore stickers, so they'll enjoy filling in the outlines of the shapes they're learning. They won't realize it, but this gives them fine motor skills practice too!

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Sticker Shapes

16. Lace shapes

Lacing cards have long been a classic, but we really like this version that uses drinking straws. Just cut them into pieces and glue them along the edges of the cards.

Learn more: Planning Playtime

17. Make shapes with LEGO bricks

LEGO math is always a winner! This activity also makes a good STEM challenge. Can your students figure out how to make a circle from straight-sided blocks?

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

18. Categorize shapes by their attributes

Work on geometry terms like "sides" and "vertices" when you sort shapes using these attributes. Start by placing shapes into paper bags and asking students questions like, "The shape in this bag has 4 sides. What could it be?"

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching

19. Count and graph shapes

These free printable worksheets challenge kids to identify shapes, then count and graph them. Lots of math skills, all in one!

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

20. Create a shape monster

Add arms, legs, and faces to create cheery (or scary) shape monsters! These make for a fun classroom display.

Learn more: Fantastic Fun and Learning

21. Sift through rice for shapes

Sure, kids can identify their shapes by sight, but what about by touch? Bury blocks in a bowl of rice or sand, then have kids dig them out and guess the shape without seeing them first.

Learn more: Fun With Mama

22. Craft an ice cream cone

Ice cream cones are made up of several shapes. Encourage kids to see how many different ways they can make a sphere of "ice cream."

Learn more: Extremely Good Parenting

23. Ask "What does the shape say?"

If you don't mind the risk of getting that song stuck in your kids' heads, this is such a neat way to combine writing and math.

Learn more: Around the Kampfire

24. Piece together shape puzzles

Use wood craft sticks to make simple puzzles for kids who are learning their shapes. These are inexpensive enough that you can make full sets for each of your students.

Learn more: Toddler at Play

25. Feed a shape monster

Turn paper bags into shape-eating monsters, then let kids fill their hungry bellies!
From teaching shapes to long division and everything in between, these are the 25 Must-Have Elementary Classroom Math Supplies You Can Count On. Plus, 22 Active Math Games and Activities For Kids Who Love to Move.

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25 Creative Activities and Ideas For Learning Shapes

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Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. This readies them for geometry in the years ahead, but it's also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. We've rounded up our favorite activities for learning shapes, both 2-D and 3-D.

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The properties of shapes explained for parents, so they understand what their children will be learning.

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Here we provide a summary of the 2D shapes and 3D shapes covered in the maths curriculum at primary school with a specific focus on the properties of shapes that teachers and parents can support children to learn and understand.
For a more in-depth look at shapes, then the following articles are recommended:

What are the properties of 2D shapes?

2D shapes have two dimensions, such as width and height. We will go into more detail classifying these below.

What are the properties of 3D shapes?

3D shapes have three dimensions, such as width, height and depth. We will go into more detail classifying these below.

When will children learn about the properties of 2D and 3D shapes?

Here's what the National Curriculum expects to be taught about the properties of shapes, separated by key stage:

KS1 children should be able to:

Develop their ability to recognise, describe, draw, compare and sort different shapes and use the related vocabulary.

Lower KS2 children should be able to:

Draw with increasing accuracy and develop mathematical reasoning so they can analyse shapes and their properties, and confidently describe the relationships between them.

Upper KS2 children should be able to:

Classify shapes with increasingly complex geometric properties and learn the vocabulary they need to describe them.

Comparing properties of shapes in a Third Space Learning's online maths lesson

Read more about sorting shapes: What Is A Carroll Diagram?

Below are some of the shapes children will need to know, including their properties, such as the number of sides.

Properties of 2D shapes

A semi-circle has 2 sides; 1 curved side and 1 straight side. The full arc is a 180° angle.

Circles

An equilateral triangle is a regular triangle and each angle equals 60°.

A right-angled triangle is any triangle with one right angle.

A scalene triangle is an irregular triangle. All sides and angles are different.

An isosceles triangle has two sides and two angles that are the same.

Triangles (3-sided shapes)

A square is a regular quadrilateral and each angle equals 90°.

A kite has two pairs of equal-length sides and the diagonals cross at right-angles.

A rectangle has two pairs of parallel straight lines and each angle equals 90°.

A rhombus has two pairs of parallel lines, as well as equal sides and opposite equal angles.

A trapezium has one pair of parallel lines.

A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel lines and opposite equal angles.

Quadrilaterals (4-sided shapes)

A pentagon is any shape with 5 sides. The interior angles add up to 540°.

A hexagon is any shape with 6 sides. The interior angles add up to 720°.

A heptagon or septagon is any shape with 7 sides. The interior angles add up to 900°.

An octagon is any shape with 8 sides. The interior angles add up to 1080°.

A nonagon is any shape with 9 sides. The interior angles add up to 1260°.

A decagon is any shape with 10 sides. The interior angles add up to 1440°.

A sphere has 1 curved surface.

A hemisphere has 1 face, 1 curved surface and 1 edge.

A cone has 1 face, 1 curved surface, 1 edge and 1 vertex.

A tetrahedron, or triangular-based pyramid, has 4 faces, 6 edges and 4 vertices.

A square-based pyramid has 5 faces, 8 edges and 5 vertices.

A cylinder has 2 faces, 1 curved surface and 2 edges.

Polygons

A triangular prism has 5 faces, 9 edges and 6 vertices.

A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices.

A cuboid has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices.

A pentagonal prism has 7 faces, 15 edges and 10 vertices.

A hexagonal prism has 8 faces, 18 edges and 12 vertices.

Properties of 3D shapes
1. Which of these shapes is a pentagon?

(Answer: Bottom left) 2. Which shape has exactly 5 faces?

3. These two shaded triangles are each inside a regular hexagon. In each hexagon, is the triangle an equilateral, isosceles or scalene?

(Answer: 1st = isosceles / 2nd = scalene) 4. Here is a drawing of a 3D shape.

Prisms

(Answer: Faces = 6 / Vertices = 8 / Edges = 12) 5. Is this rhombus a regular quadrilateral? Explain how you know.

(Answer: No - not all angles are the same)
Properties of shapes questions

Put your children's problem solving to the test!

Complete the table.

Properties of shapes worksheets

Use these related worksheets for an interactive approach to shapes in the classroom, including real life examples and everyday objects!

Online 1-to-1 maths lessons trusted by schools and teachers
Every week Third Space Learning's maths specialist tutors support thousands of primary school children with weekly online 1-to-1 lessons and maths interventions. Since 2013 we've helped over 80,000 children become more confident, able mathematicians. Learn more or request a personalised quote to speak to us about your needs and how we can help.

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2D And 3D Shapes And Their Properties: Explained For Primary School Teachers, Parents And Kids

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Here we provide a summary of the 2D shapes and 3D shapes covered in the maths curriculum at primary school with a specific focus on the properties of shapes that teachers and parents can support children to learn and understand.