Chapter 6 — Shapes and Space
Shapes are all around us. We can see different shapes in objects such as plates, books, doors, windows, boxes and signs.
In this chapter, you will learn about common shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles and triangles. You will also learn how to recognise these shapes in everyday objects and describe the position and direction of objects around you.
Why This Chapter Matters
Learning about shapes helps us recognise and describe objects around us. Understanding position and direction helps us explain where objects are and how they are placed in relation to one another.
Different shapes have different sides, corners and appearances.
These ideas are useful in everyday life and provide a foundation for learning more about geometry and space.
What You Will Learn
- What a shape is.
- How to recognise a circle.
- How to recognise a square.
- How to recognise a rectangle.
- How to recognise a triangle.
- How to identify shapes in everyday objects.
- How to describe the position of objects.
- How to understand simple directions.
Before You Begin
Before starting this chapter, you should be comfortable recognising numbers and simple patterns.
You will use these skills to notice sides, corners, shapes and positions while learning the new concepts in this chapter.
Understanding the Learning Sequence
The lessons move from understanding what shapes are to recognising individual shapes, finding them in everyday objects and finally describing position and direction.
This sequence helps you first understand shapes before identifying them in real-life objects and using position and direction words.
Lessons in This Chapter
Complete the lessons in the order shown below.
Important Ideas
- Shapes help us describe and recognise objects.
- A circle is round and has no corners.
- A square has four equal sides and four corners.
- A rectangle has four sides and four corners.
- A triangle has three sides and three corners.
- Many everyday objects look like familiar mathematical shapes.
- Position words help us describe where objects are.
- Direction words help us describe movement and location.
Chapter Practice
- Name one object that looks like a circle.
- How many sides does a square have?
- How many corners does a rectangle have?
- How many sides does a triangle have?
- Name one object that looks like a rectangle.
- Which shape is round and has no corners?
- What is the opposite of above?
- What is the opposite of near?
- What is the opposite of inside?
- Which direction is opposite to right?
Quick Revision
Shapes have different appearances, sides and corners. A circle is round, a square has four equal sides, a rectangle has four sides, and a triangle has three sides.
We can also find these shapes in objects around us and use words such as above, below, inside, outside, near, far, left and right to describe position and direction.
Continue Learning
Start with Lesson 1 — What Are Shapes? and complete the lessons in sequence.