Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 60 minutes
Shape riddles: sides, corners and curves
Geometry
CCSS K.G.B.4England: Reception ShapeEngland: Y1 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Shape riddles: sides, corners and curves.
- 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: Identify a shape from clues about sides, corners and equal sides
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 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 · 6 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: Shape riddles: sides, corners and curves. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: I have 6 straight sides and 6 corners. What am I?
- Step 1: Hexagon
- Answer: hexagon
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- I have 4 sides that are all the same length and 4 corners. What am I? (square / triangle / hexagon / circle) → squarePrompt: Draw the shape the clues describe.
- I have 6 straight sides and 6 corners. What am I? (triangle / circle / square / hexagon) → hexagonPrompt: Draw the shape the clues describe.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- I am round. I have no sides and no corners. What am I? (circle / hexagon / square / rectangle) → circlePrompt: Draw the shape the clues describe.
- I have 3 straight sides and 3 corners. What am I? (rectangle / hexagon / square / triangle) → trianglePrompt: Draw the shape the clues describe.
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: Identify a shape from clues about sides, corners and equal sides.
- 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