New
New
Year 3
Identifying parallel lines
I can identify parallel lines and extend lines in polygons to determine if sides are parallel.
New
New
Year 3
Identifying parallel lines
I can identify parallel lines and extend lines in polygons to determine if sides are parallel.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- If you extend the side of a shape beyond the shape you can identify parallel and perpendicular lines.
- Lines are parallel because they are always the same distance apart.
Keywords
Parallel - Parallel lines are straight lines that are always the same distance apart. They never get closer together or further apart.
Common misconception
Children may overgeneralise that parallel lines can only come in pairs or must be horizontal or vertical in orientation.
These misconceptions are addressed in the lesson. You may wish to use these to create additional examples and non-examples to compare and share.
In Cycle 2 children learn to extend lines to check if they are parallel. Take time to encourage discussion and prediction so that they are selective about which lines they extend to check.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Order the shapes starting with the shape with the highest number of vertices.
Q2.
Complete the sentence. This quadrilateral has pair(s) of parallel sides.
Q3.
Complete the sentence. This polygon has pair(s) of perpendicular sides.
Q4.
Complete the sentence. A pair of perpendicular sides meet to make a angle.
Q5.
Select the correct end to this sentence. A trapezium has exactly …
… one pair of perpendicular sides.
… two pairs of perpendicular sides.
… two pairs of parallel sides.
Q6.
Name one of the two shapes that this pentagon has been decomposed into.
Exit quiz
Download exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
True or false? These lines are all parallel to one another.
False
Q2.
True or false? These lines are all parallel to one another.
False
Q3.
True or false? These lines are all parallel to one another.
True
Q4.
To check if sides in a shape are parallel, you can …
… use a right angle checker.
… draw your own shape.
… look really closely.
Q5.
How many other sides are parallel to the side marked with an A in this polygon?
Q6.
True or false: If a shape has a pair of parallel sides it must also have a pair of perpendicular sides.
True