Math lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
What makes a shape that shape?
Geometry
CCSS 1.G.A.1England: Y1 GeometryEngland: Y2 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: What makes a shape that shape?.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: A shape keeps its name when it is turned or resized
Leads to: Which shape does not belong, and why?
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (A shape keeps its name when it is turned or resized). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- A hexagon is turned upside down. Is it still a hexagon? (Yes / No) → YesPrompt: What makes a shape that shape: its sides and corners, or its size and colour?
- Zoe says: "A big triangle and a tilted triangle are different shapes." True or false? (True / False) → FalsePrompt: How many sides does each one have?
- A square is made tiny. Is it still a square? (Yes / No) → YesPrompt: What makes a shape that shape: its sides and corners, or its size and colour?
Hook · 3 min
- Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
- Share the objective: What makes a shape that shape?. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which is always true about every rectangle?
- Step 1: It has 4 straight sides and 4 square corners
- Answer: It has 4 straight sides and 4 square corners
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which is always true about every hexagon? (It points upwards / It is blue / It has 6 straight sides / It is big) → It has 6 straight sidesPrompt: Colour, size and which way it faces can change.
- Which of these is a triangle? (A shape with 3 straight sides that meet at 3 corners / A shape with 3 curved sides / A shape with 4 straight sides / A shape with 3 straight sides that do not join up) → A shape with 3 straight sides that meet at 3 cornersPrompt: A triangle is a closed shape.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which is always true about every hexagon? (It points upwards / It is blue / It is big / It has 6 straight sides) → It has 6 straight sidesPrompt: Colour, size and which way it faces can change.
- Which of these is a hexagon? (A shape with 6 straight sides that do not join up / A shape with 6 straight sides that meet at 6 corners / A shape with 6 curved sides / A shape with 7 straight sides) → A shape with 6 straight sides that meet at 6 cornersPrompt: A hexagon is a closed shape.
Watch out for
- Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
- Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: A shape keeps its name when it is turned or resized.
- Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Which shape does not belong, and why?.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder