Year 1: Flat shapes: circle, triangle, square and rectangle
Part of the Year 1 2-d and 3-d shapes chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Flat shapes: circle, triangle, square and rectangle
Some shapes are flat. We call them 2-D shapes. You can draw a flat shape on paper. It has length and width, but no depth.
Trace each shape with your finger. Count its straight sides and its corners. The sides and corners help you find the name of the shape.
Key ideas
- A circle is round. It has no corners.
- A triangle has 3 straight sides and 3 corners.
- A square has 4 straight sides that are all the same length.
- A rectangle has 4 straight sides and 4 corners.
Key words. A flat shape is 2-D. A solid shape is 3-D, so it has depth.
Method. Look at the shape, then match its facts to a name.
- Look at the shape. Is it flat, or is it solid? Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.It is a flat (2-D) shape.
- Read its facts. Each name has its own facts. Count the sides, corners or faces.It has 3 straight sides and 3 corners.
- Find the name that matches. Only one shape name has these facts.triangle
Check. Say the name out loud. Does it fit the facts? ✓
Watch out. Count the sides or faces before you say the name.
Method. Count the corners one at a time.
- Look at the square. Find each one of the corners.1, 2, 3, 4
- Count them all. The last number tells you how many there are.4 corners
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Check the corners of each shape, then pick the one that matches.
- Check each shape. Look at the corners of each shape.triangle: 3, circle: 0, rectangle: 4
- Find the one that matches. Only one shape has corners 0.circle matches.
- Write the answer. circle
Check. Read the facts for circle again. ✓
Watch out. Check every shape, not just the first one you see.
Watch out
Watch out: a square and a rectangle both have 4 corners. Check that every side of a square is the same length before you say “square”.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Draw the four shapes on paper, or cut them from card. Ask: “How many corners? How many straight sides?” Let your child trace each side with a finger.
Exercise 3A Naming flat shapes
Non-calculatorKey words. A flat shape is 2-D. A solid shape is 3-D, so it has depth.
Method. Look at the shape, then match its facts to a name.
- Look at the shape. Is it flat, or is it solid? Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.It is a flat (2-D) shape.
- Read its facts. Each name has its own facts. Count the sides, corners or faces.It is round. It has no straight sides and no corners.
- Find the name that matches. Only one shape name has these facts.circle
Check. Say the name out loud. Does it fit the facts? ✓
Watch out. Count the sides or faces before you say the name.
Key words. A flat shape is 2-D. A solid shape is 3-D, so it has depth.
Method. Look at the shape, then match its facts to a name.
- Look at the shape. Is it flat, or is it solid? Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.It is a flat (2-D) shape.
- Read its facts. Each name has its own facts. Count the sides, corners or faces.It has 4 straight sides and 4 corners. The opposite sides are the same length.
- Find the name that matches. Only one shape name has these facts.rectangle
Check. Say the name out loud. Does it fit the facts? ✓
Watch out. Count the sides or faces before you say the name.
Key words. A flat shape is 2-D. A solid shape is 3-D, so it has depth.
Method. Look at the shape, then match its facts to a name.
- Look at the shape. Is it flat, or is it solid? Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.It is a flat (2-D) shape.
- Read its facts. Each name has its own facts. Count the sides, corners or faces.It has 4 straight sides, all the same length, and 4 corners.
- Find the name that matches. Only one shape name has these facts.square
Check. Say the name out loud. Does it fit the facts? ✓
Watch out. Count the sides or faces before you say the name.
Key words. A flat shape is 2-D. A solid shape is 3-D, so it has depth.
Method. Look at the shape, then match its facts to a name.
- Look at the shape. Is it flat, or is it solid? Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.It is a flat (2-D) shape.
- Read its facts. Each name has its own facts. Count the sides, corners or faces.It has 3 straight sides and 3 corners.
- Find the name that matches. Only one shape name has these facts.triangle
Check. Say the name out loud. Does it fit the facts? ✓
Watch out. Count the sides or faces before you say the name.
Method. Count the straight sides one at a time.
- Look at the triangle. Find each one of the straight sides.1, 2, 3
- Count them all. The last number tells you how many there are.3 straight sides
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Count the corners one at a time.
- Look at the circle. Find each one of the corners.none to count
- Count them all. The last number tells you how many there are.0 corners
- Write the answer. 0
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 0 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Count the corners one at a time.
- Look at the triangle. Find each one of the corners.1, 2, 3
- Count them all. The last number tells you how many there are.3 corners
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Count the corners one at a time.
- Look at the square. Find each one of the corners.1, 2, 3, 4
- Count them all. The last number tells you how many there are.4 corners
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each one as you count it, so you do not miss one or count one twice.
Method. Check the corners of each shape, then pick the one that matches.
- Check each shape. Look at the corners of each shape.square: 4, triangle: 3
- Find the one that matches. Only one shape has corners 4.square matches.
- Write the answer. square
Check. Read the facts for square again. ✓
Watch out. Check every shape, not just the first one you see.
Method. Check the corners of each shape, then pick the one that matches.
- Check each shape. Look at the corners of each shape.circle: 0, square: 4
- Find the one that matches. Only one shape has corners 0.circle matches.
- Write the answer. circle
Check. Read the facts for circle again. ✓
Watch out. Check every shape, not just the first one you see.
Method. Read the name, then check the facts of the shape.
- Read what the child says. Find the name they give.The name given is circle.
- Look at the shape. Check its facts.It has 4 straight sides and 4 corners. The opposite sides are the same length.
- Decide if the name fits. The name must match the facts.No. It is a rectangle, not a circle.
Check. Count the sides and corners of the shape again. ✓
Watch out. A name is only right if the facts match.
Method. Pick a shape with 4 sides, and count its corners.
- Pick a shape with 4 sides. A square has 4 straight sides.A square: 4 sides
- Count its corners. Each corner is where two sides meet.A square: 4 corners
- Decide. Every shape with 4 sides has 4 corners, so Sam is right.Yes. For example, a square has 4 sides and 4 corners.
Check. A rectangle has 4 sides and 4 corners too. ✓
Watch out. Count the sides and the corners, not the size of the shape.
Method. Check the corners of each shape, then pick the one that matches.
- Check each shape. Look at the corners of each shape.circle: 0, triangle: 3, square: 4
- Find the one that matches. Only one shape has corners 0.circle matches.
- Write the answer. circle
Check. Read the facts for circle again. ✓
Watch out. Check every shape, not just the first one you see.