A 2D shape made up of 3 or more straight sides.

A shape with only two measurable dimensions, e.g. width and length, but no thickness.

A vertex is the point where two lines meet. The plural is vertices.

Recognise and sort polygons

Maths

In this unit pupils will learn that polygons can be described, sorted, compared and named according to the number of sides and vertices. They will describe 3D shapes finding different ways to sort and compare them. In the future unit pupils will investigate different ways to compose and decompose a polygon. They will investigate quadrilaterals with and without parallel and perpendicular sides. 

In the prior unit pupils composed, copied, extended and developed repeating and radiating patterns. They explored, discussed, and compared 3D and 2D shapes. In this unit pupils will learn that polygons can be described, sorted, compared and named according to the number of sides and vertices. They will describe 3D shapes, finding different ways to sort and compare them.

Shape: discuss and compare 2D and 3D shapes

These shapes are all polygons. Which of the statements are true for all polygons?

Shapes in a) are polygons and shapes in b are not polygons.

Shapes in a) are 2D shapes and shapes in b are 3D shapes.

Shapes in a) have more than 6 vertices and shapes in b) have less than 6

Which of the shapes is the same as shape b?

has four straight sides and four vertices

has thee straight sides and three vertices

How can you describe each shape? Match the shape to the description.

True or false. These shapes are all rectangles.

True or false. A square is a type of rectangle.

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Recognise and sort polygons

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.