Module 4 Understanding shape
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Can I make, name and describe 2-D and 3-D shapes?

Example review questions

  • Find and name the shapes in this set that are not quadrilaterals.
    A mixture of two dimentional shapes.
  • Can you identify and name the shapes in this set that have:
    • no right angles
    • all sides equal?
  • Pick one shape and describe it to a friend. Can your friend identify your shape?
  • Here are some drawings of 3-D solids. Which drawings show cylinders? Name the other shapes you can see in the drawings. Which shapes are prisms?
    A mixture of three dimentional shapes.
  • Find a solid shape that has four triangular faces and one square face. What is it called?

Teaching guidance

This teaching guidance document suggests some of the key vocabulary, models, images and practical equipment that children should experience and be able to use. It also includes some teaching tips to provide a few starting points for ways of supporting children with this area of mathematics.

DOC file Can I make, name and describe 2-D and 3-D shapes? - teaching guidance | 209KB new window

Consolidation and practice

These resources are to support children in guided or independent work. Roll over the highlighted resources for a description.

PDF file How to use area ITP | 156KB new window

SWF file Area ITP | 41KB new window

PDF file How to use fixing points ITP | 133KB new window

SWF file Fixing points ITP | 55KB new window

PDF file How to use polygon ITP | 176KB new window

SWF file Polygon ITP | 31KB new window

PDF file How to use isometric grid ITP | 254KB new window

SWF file Isometric grid ITP | 46KB new window

DOC file 2-D shape resource cards | 44KB new window

Area

itp_area.png

The Area interactive teaching program (ITP) is an ICT-based tool to support the exploration of number, shape and space and problem solving. Area ITP (version 2.2) allows the child or teacher to place counters or colour in whole or part cells on a grid, pinboard or blank screen, or to define a shape using a rubber band.

Fixpoints

itp_fixpoints.png

This interactive teaching program (ITP) is an ICT-based tool to support the exploration of shape and space. Fixing points ITP allows the child or teacher to create one or more shapes by connecting a number of vertices on a grid. Angles can be estimated and measured, and the effect of moving different vertices can be explored.

Polygon

itp_polygon.png

This interactive teaching program (ITP) is an ICT-based tool to support the exploration of shape, space and measure. Polygon ITP allows the child or teacher to represent regular polygons with three to ten sides. The ITP can then be used to explore the properties of regular and irregular shapes by dragging vertices and creating additional vertices. The ITP includes an on-screen protractor and ruler.

Isogrid

itp_isogrid.png

This interactive teaching program (ITP) is an ICT-based tool to support the exploration of shape and space. Isometric grid ITP allows the child or teacher to display equilateral triangles. The grid can be hidden or become an isometric pin board. An elastic band can be stretched around the pins to create outlines. Rhombuses can be selected and dragged to different positions on the grid, and then locked together to form representations of 3-D shapes.

Opportunities to use and apply

Possible contexts include:

  • shape problems and puzzles, e.g. Is it possible for a triangle to contain two right angles?
  • classifying and sorting shapes, e.g. One of the shapes does not belong in this set. Find the odd one out. Explain how you found it.
  • measurement, e.g. Draw a rectangle that is twice as long as it is wide. How did you go about this?
  • art/design technology, e.g. Use shapes on an ICT package to create a symmetrical logo and describe how you made it.
  • data handling, e.g. Position and name a set of 3-D shapes in the correct place on this Carroll diagram.
    A Carroll diagram. Prism and not a prism across the top. Has verticles and does not have verticals across the side.

Confirming learning

Ask probing questions such as:

  • I dip a triangular prism in paint and make a print of each face. What shapes will I print?
  • How many different shapes can you make by placing these two identical right-angled triangles edge to edge? How do you know you have found them all? Describe each shape.
    Two identical right-angled triangles.
  • Use cubes to make these shapes.
    Three, three dimentional shapes.
  • To draw a picture of a cube, would you use straight or curved lines? What about a cylinder?
  • From a set of 2-D shapes, find and name a shape that:
    • has at least one right angle
    • has line symmetry.