Grade: 3rd
Subject: Math
Expectation(s): Can identify geometric attributes of shapes (right angles, parallel sides)
and solve perimeter problems
Materials needed: Scissors, shape sheets (attached), paper, pencil
Lesson Description: Shape sort
Explain to your student that you’re going to going to cut out shape cards and decide how to put them
into groups. Have your student cut out the shapes on the attached sheets.
Talk with your student about ways you might be able to group the shapes. Suggestions for how the
shapes might be sorted:
•
•
•
•
shapes with only straight sides (polygons), shapes with some curved boundaries
polygons with three sides (triangles), four sides (quadrilaterals), five sides, six sides, more than
six sides
shapes with right angles, shapes with no right angles
quadrilaterals with four equal sides (squares and rhombuses), two pairs of equal sides (the
remaining rectangles and parallelograms), one pair of equal sides, and those with no equal
sides.
Teaching and learning tips/strategies:
• Encourage your student to use geometric language while describing the shapes (right angles,
parallel lines, etc.)
• If your student is overwhelmed by the number of shapes (48 in total), use one sheet instead of
two
• Don’t forget to praise your student’s efforts!