Year 1: Sorting shapes into groups
Part of the Year 1 2-d and 3-d shapes chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Sorting shapes into groups
Sorting means putting things into groups. First we choose a rule, such as “is flat” or “has 4 corners”. Then each shape goes in the group that fits the rule.
For one rule, each shape goes in one group only. Look at each shape carefully before you choose its group.
Key ideas
- A rule tells you which group a shape goes in.
- Each shape goes in one group for each rule.
- Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.
- Check every shape against the rule, one at a time.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Is each shape flat or solid? Flat shapes can be drawn on paper.A: yes B: no C: yes D: no
- Make the group of shapes that are flat (2-D). These fit the rule. The others are solid (3-D).Group: A and C
- Write the answer. A and C
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: B and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Count the corners of each shape. Which shapes have 4?A: yes B: no C: yes D: no
- Make the group of shapes that have 4 corners. These fit the rule. The others do not have 4 corners.Group: A and C
- Write the answer. A and C
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: B and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Look for a curved part on each shape. Does it have one?A: no B: yes C: yes D: no
- Make the group of shapes that have a curved part. These fit the rule. The others do not have a curved part.Group: B and C
- Write the answer. B and C
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: A and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Watch out
Watch out: sort by one rule at a time. A circle is flat, but a sphere is solid. Look at the shape, not its colour or its size.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Mix up a few real things, such as a tin, a ball, a box and a card. Ask your child to sort them into two boxes, then to say the rule. Ask: “Why does this one go here?”
Exercise 3E Sorting shapes
Non-calculatorMethod. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Is each shape flat or solid?A: yes B: yes C: no D: no
- Make the group of shapes that are flat (2-D). These fit the rule. The others are solid (3-D).Group: A and B
- Write the answer. A and B
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: C and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Is each shape flat or solid?A: no B: yes C: yes D: no
- Make the group of shapes that are solid (3-D). These fit the rule. The others are flat (2-D).Group: B and C
- Write the answer. B and C
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: A and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Count the corners of each shape.A: no B: no C: yes D: no
- Make the group of shapes that have 4 corners. These fit the rule. The others do not have 4 corners.Group: C
- Write the answer. C
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: A, B and D. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Check each shape against the rule, then put the shapes into two groups.
- Check each shape. Look for a curved part on each shape.A: no B: yes C: no D: yes
- Make the group of shapes that have a curved part. These fit the rule. The others do not have a curved part.Group: B and D
- Write the answer. B and D
Check. Every letter is in one group only. The other group has: A and C. ✓
Watch out. A shape can only go in one group for each rule. Check every letter.
Method. Look for the shape that is different from the others.
- Check the same feature for each shape. We look at solid for each one.circle: no, square: no, triangle: no, cube: yes
- Find the one that is different. Only one shape does not match the others.cube is different.
- Write the answer. cube. It is solid. The others are flat.
Check. Check that the other shapes all match each other. ✓
Watch out. Look for the one that does not fit the rule, not the one you like best.
Method. Look for the shape that is different from the others.
- Check the same feature for each shape. We look at curved for each one.cone: yes, cylinder: yes, sphere: yes, cuboid: no
- Find the one that is different. Only one shape does not match the others.cuboid is different.
- Write the answer. cuboid. It has no curved part. The others have curved parts.
Check. Check that the other shapes all match each other. ✓
Watch out. Look for the one that does not fit the rule, not the one you like best.
Method. Sort the shapes into flat and solid, then count each group.
- Sort the shapes. Flat shapes are 2-D. Solid shapes are 3-D.Flat: circle, triangle, square. Solid: cube, sphere, cone.
- Count each group. Count the shapes in each group.Flat: 3. Solid: 3.
- Write the answer. 3 flat shapes and 3 solid shapes
Check. 3 + 3 = 6 shapes altogether. ✓
Watch out. Make sure every shape is in one group.
Method. Flat shapes can be drawn on paper. Solid shapes have depth.
- Look at the shape. Ask: can I draw it flat, or is it solid?A circle is flat (2-D).
- Answer yes or no. Yes means it is flat.yes
Check. A solid shape has depth, so you can pick it up. ✓
Watch out. A flat shape has no depth.
Method. Flat shapes can be drawn on paper. Solid shapes have depth.
- Look at the shape. Ask: can I draw it flat, or is it solid?A cube is solid (3-D).
- Answer yes or no. Yes means it is flat.no
Check. A solid shape has depth, so you can pick it up. ✓
Watch out. A flat shape has no depth.
Method. Flat shapes can be drawn on paper. Solid shapes have depth.
- Look at the shape. Ask: can I draw it flat, or is it solid?A cylinder is solid (3-D).
- Answer yes or no. Yes means it is flat.no
Check. A solid shape has depth, so you can pick it up. ✓
Watch out. A flat shape has no depth.
Method. Count the corners of the circle, then check where Mia put it.
- Look at the circle. Count its corners.A circle has 0 corners.
- Check where Mia put it. A shape with no corners goes in the “no corners” group.Mia put it in the wrong group.
- Write the answer. No. A circle has no corners.
Check. A triangle has 3 corners and a square has 4. ✓
Watch out. A circle is round, with no corners.
Method. Count the flat faces of each shape. Look for a group that works.
- Count the faces of the cube. Count each flat face.Cube: 6 flat faces
- Count the faces of the cylinder. The top and the bottom are flat.Cylinder: 2 flat faces
- Count the faces of the sphere. A ball has no flat faces.Sphere: 0 flat faces
- Write the rule. The cube and the cylinder have flat faces. The sphere does not.Rule: has flat faces. The cube and the cylinder have flat faces, and the sphere has none.
Check. Check the rule on each shape: 6, 2 and 0 flat faces. ✓
Watch out. Other rules can work too, such as “is solid”. Check that your rule puts the sphere in the other group.
Method. Count the straight sides of each shape. A circle has none.
- Check each shape. Does it have straight sides?triangle: 3 sides, square: 4 sides, rectangle: 4 sides, circle: 0 sides
- Count the shapes with straight sides. Only count the shapes with straight sides.3 shapes have straight sides.
- Compare with the claim. The claim says 3.Yes. The triangle, square and rectangle have straight sides.
Check. Count the shapes again: triangle, square and rectangle. ✓
Watch out. A circle has no straight sides, so it does not count.