🔢 MathLevel 1Lesson 36
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Building with Shapes

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Use 2D shapes to build a picture or structure on paper
  • 2Name every shape used
  • 3Count the sides and corners of each shape and combine shapes
  • 4Explain what happens to shared sides
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Mini Lesson

Did you know that every building, every picture, and every machine is made of shapes? Architects and engineers use shape knowledge every day. Today you are going to be a shape builder!

2D shape reference

  • Circle — 0 sides, 0 corners, 1 curved edge. Rolls.
  • Triangle — 3 sides, 3 corners.
  • Square — 4 equal sides, 4 corners, a special rectangle.
  • Rectangle — 4 sides (opposite sides equal), 4 corners.
  • Pentagon — 5 sides, 5 corners.
  • Hexagon — 6 sides, 6 corners.

Combining shapes

  • Two matching triangles cut from one rectangle fit back together along their longest side to make a rectangle.
  • Two squares side by side make a rectangle.
  • A square with a triangle on top makes a house shape.
  • When you put shapes together the total number of sides changes — the shared side disappears.

Building tips

  • Plan your picture first — decide which shapes you need.
  • Use the shape with the right number of sides for each part.
  • Label each shape after you draw it.

Words to know

Circle

0 sides, 0 corners, 1 curved edge

e.g. coin, wheel, moon

Triangle

3 straight sides, 3 corners

e.g. roof, slice of pizza

Square

4 equal sides, 4 corners

e.g. tile, window

Rectangle

4 sides (opposite sides equal), 4 corners

e.g. door, book

Pentagon

5 sides, 5 corners

e.g. home plate

Hexagon

6 sides, 6 corners

e.g. honeycomb cell

Six 2D shapes with names and side counts: circle, triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagonTwo rows of shapes. Top row: circle with 0 sides, triangle with 3 sides, square with 4 sides. Bottom row: rectangle with 4 sides, pentagon with 5 sides, hexagon with 6 sides.2D Shape ReferenceCircle0 sidesTriangle3 sidesSquare4 sidesRectangle4 sidesPentagon5 sidesHexagon6 sidesSides● = 0▲ = 3■ = 4⬠ = 5 ⬡ = 6
Six 2D shapes — each labeled with its name and number of sides.
A house built from shapes: square walls, triangle roof, rectangle door, and two square windowsA simple house drawing. A blue square forms the walls. A red triangle sits on top as the roof. A brown rectangle is centered at the bottom as the door. Two small yellow squares are the windows.Build a House with Shapes!▲ roof■ walls▭ door■ windows
A house built from three shape types — square walls, triangle roof, rectangle door, and square windows.
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Ask yourself: What shape is this part of my picture? How many sides and corners does it have?

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