Lesson Plan

2-D Shapes

Shape up your students' understanding of geometrical attributes with this hands-on math lesson. Students will gain a better understanding of how to describe a shape by the number of edges and vertices it has, rather than by its name.
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Sides, Corners, and More, Oh My! pre-lesson.
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Need extra help for EL students? Try the Sides, Corners, and More, Oh My! pre-lesson.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to name shapes according to their attributes.

The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
EL adjustments

Introduction

(3 minutes)
2-D Shapes
  • Display a triangle to the class, either by drawing it on the whiteboard or using an interactive whiteboard. Ask your students to call out the name of the shape.
  • Discuss the shape attributes as a class. Great discussion questions include: How many sides does a triangle have? Are they straight or curved? How many corners does a triangle have?
  • Point to each corner on the triangle. Explain to the class that a corner is the place where two sides meet.
  • Count the sides of the triangle together. Explain that each side is a line that connects to two corners.
  • Explain to the class that today they will learn how to describe the attributes, or characteristics, of a shape to describe it, instead of just using its name!

Beginning

  • Provide students with a set of flashcards that have pictures of shapes in the lesson on the front and the shape's names in English and their home language (L1) on the back.
  • Read through the flashcards with the students orally prior to the lesson.
  • Instruct students to label the corners and sides of a couple objects in the room.

Intermediate

  • Have students think-pair-share what a corner and side are with an elbow partner.
  • Ask students to find a corner in the room. Next, ask students to find an object with two or more sides.