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Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Put shapes together to make new shapes

Geometry

CCSS K.G.B.6England: Reception ShapeEngland: Y1 Geometry

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Put shapes together to make new shapes.

  • 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: Name 2D shapes

Leads to: Build shapes from smaller shapes

Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Name 2D shapes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Hook · 5 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: Put shapes together to make new shapes. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Two squares the same size are put side by side. What shape do they make?
  • Step 1: Rectangle
  • Answer: rectangle
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Two squares the same size are put side by side. What shape do they make? (rectangle / circle / triangle / hexagon) → rectanglePrompt: Draw the pieces and slide them together.
  2. Two matching triangles are put together along their longest sides. Which shape can they make? (square / circle / pentagon / hexagon) → squarePrompt: Draw the pieces and slide them together.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 7 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Two squares the same size are put side by side. What shape do they make? (circle / hexagon / rectangle / triangle) → rectanglePrompt: Draw the pieces and slide them together.
  2. Two half-circles are put together along their straight edges. What shape do they make? (triangle / rectangle / circle / square) → circlePrompt: Draw the pieces and slide them together.

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: Name 2D shapes.
  • 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: Build shapes from smaller shapes.
  • 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/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Put shapes together to make new shapes

Name

Date

Score/ 7

  1. Question 1

    How many squares the same size do you need to make a long rectangle that is 3 squares long and 1 square high?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Two squares the same size are put side by side. What shape do they make?

    • A. triangle
    • B. rectangle
    • C. hexagon
    • D. circle

  3. Question 3

    Two matching triangles are put together along their longest sides. Which shape can they make?

    • A. circle
    • B. hexagon
    • C. square
    • D. pentagon

  4. Question 4

    How many squares the same size do you need to make a long rectangle that is 5 squares long and 1 square high?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    How many squares the same size do you need to make a long rectangle that is 4 squares long and 1 square high?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Two half-circles are put together along their straight edges. What shape do they make?

    • A. rectangle
    • B. circle
    • C. triangle
    • D. square

  7. Question 7

    How many squares the same size do you need to make a long rectangle that is 2 squares long and 1 square high?

    Answer

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Answer key: Put shapes together to make new shapes

  1. 1. 3

  2. 2. B. rectangle

  3. 3. C. square

  4. 4. 5

  5. 5. 4

  6. 6. B. circle

  7. 7. 2