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Year 4

Identify different types of triangle

I can identify different types of triangles and describe their properties.

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New
New
Year 4

Identify different types of triangle

I can identify different types of triangles and describe their properties.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. All triangles have 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.
  2. Equilateral triangles have 3 equal sides and 3 equal angles.
  3. Isosceles triangles have 2 equal sides and 2 equal angles.
  4. Scalene triangles have no equal sides and no equal angles.

Common misconception

Some children may find it harder to recognise the type of triangle when they are drawn in different positions and orientations.

Allow time for children to manipulate the triangles so that they can see them in different orientations and build their understanding of the properties of each type of triangle.

Keywords

  • Equilateral triangle - Equilateral triangles have 3 equal sides and 3 equal angles.

  • Isosceles triangle - Isosceles triangles have 2 equal sides and 2 equal angles.

  • Scalene triangle - Scalene triangles have no equal sides and no equal angles.

There are opportunities throughout this lesson for children to explore the properties of triangles using angle strips and circular peg boards. If you do not have circular peg boards to hand, encourage use of those in the 'additional materials'. Children can achieve the same by drawing on these.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The corners of a shape are called the
Correct answer: vertices
properties
symmetry
sides
Q2.
Which of the statements are true for all polygons?
Correct answer: They have three or more straight sides.
Correct answer: They are 2D shapes.
They are 3D shapes.
Correct answer: They have sides that join at vertices.
Q3.
Match the polygon with the number of sides that it has.
Correct Answer:triangle,3

3

Correct Answer:quadrilateral,4

4

Correct Answer:pentagon,5

5

Correct Answer:hexagon,6

6

Correct Answer:octagon,8

8

Q4.
A right angle is the same as a __________ turn.
whole
Correct answer: quarter
three-quarter
half
Q5.
Match the names of the polygons with their properties
Correct Answer:A polygon with 4 vertices is called,a quadrilateral.

a quadrilateral.

Correct Answer:A polygon with 5 vertices is called,a pentagon.

a pentagon.

Correct Answer:A polygon with 6 vertices is called,a hexagon.

a hexagon.

Correct Answer:A polygon with 8 vertices is called,an octagon.

an octagon.

Q6.
Which of these shapes are quadrilaterals?
Correct answer: square
Correct answer: rectangle
triangle
Correct answer: trapezium
Correct answer: parallelogram

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these statements are true for all triangles?
Correct answer: They have 3 straight sides.
They have 3 rounded corners.
They have 2 sides the same length.
Correct answer: They have 3 vertices.
Q2.
All triangles have 3 straight sides and 3 vertices. Which of the following are triangles?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a
b
c
Correct answer: d
Q3.
Match the triangles to the correct description.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A,This triangle has no equal sides and no equal angles.

This triangle has no equal sides and no equal angles.

Correct Answer:B,This triangle has three equal sides and three equal angles.

This triangle has three equal sides and three equal angles.

Correct Answer:C,This triangle has two equal sides and two equal angles.

This triangle has two equal sides and two equal angles.

Q4.
An equilateral triangle has 3 sides and 3 angles that are __________.
curved
Correct answer: equal
different
Q5.
Which triangle has no equal sides or angles?
equilateral
isosceles
Correct answer: scalene
Q6.
Match the type of triangle to its properties.
Correct Answer:scalene,no equal sides and no equal angles

no equal sides and no equal angles

Correct Answer:isosceles,two equal sides and two equal angles

two equal sides and two equal angles

Correct Answer:equilateral,three equal sides and three equal angles

three equal sides and three equal angles