shape | Maths Blog

Resource of the week: scalene triangles

This week we take another look at types of triangle. A lot of work is done on triangles in Primary Schools and by year 5 and 6 most children are familiar with the properties of right angled triangles, equilateral triangles and isosceles triangles. An equilateral triangle has all three sides equal and all three angles equal; an isosceles triangle has two equal sides and two equal angles. However, fewer children know about the scalene triangle. A scalene triangle is one which has no sides the same length and no equal angles. Right angled triangles could also be scalene if all the sides are different lengths.

Thanks to MathSphere Ltd for this worksheet: and there are many more similar pages, both on their site and part of the ‘It’s All Figured Out’ CD.

This page can be found on the blog in the Year 5 section under Shape.

Go to our year 5 shape resources

Year 2 Shape worksheet: 4 squares

In year 2 children should be using 2D shapes to make pictures and patterns by drawing round them, as well as using pin boards and elastic bands. This mini investigation looks at combining four squares to see how many different shapes can be made. The best way to go about this is to have four larger squares to move about and to record results on square paper.

One of the important parts of this is to define what counts as a shape. For example, two squares joined only at the right angle would fall apart if cut so can it count as a shape?

It also encourages moving and turning shapes to see if two shapes are actually just one but seen from a different perspective.

It also encourages systematic reporting and working in a methodical way.

Thanks to urbrainy.com for letting me use this resource.

Shapes from 4 squares

Year 3 Shape worksheets

In year 3 the range of shapes that children are expected to know increases vastly. To help with this we have some great maths worksheets on 2D and 3D shape. These include pages on prisms, recognising and naming 3D shapes such as cylinders, pyramids, cuboids and the properties of quadrilaterals.

A 9 pin geoboard is a great resource and we include plenty of ideas on how to use these to help with recognising shapes such as pentagons. There are also some mini investigations such as ‘how many different shapes can you make with 2 triangles?’

Visit our Year 3 shape section

Year 2 maths worksheet: 3 sided shapes

A pinboard is a great way to investigate shapes.

This may be made by nailing panel pins or small nails into a piece of plywood approximately 24cm × 24cm.

Cut out the plywood and mark a grid of lines at 2cm intervals in both directions across the plywood. Tap in the pins at the points where the lines of the grid meet. Leave enough of the pins protruding to accommodate elastic bands.

This page looks at how many different 3-sided shapes can be made. The results can be drawn onto the page of ‘pinboards’. When investigating this it is important to talk about the shapes and ask questions such as:

what counts as a triangle?

how many different kinds of triangle have you made?

Are some the same, but just a different way round?

etc

3 sided pinboard

Year 2 Shape and money investigation

Circles, triangles, rectangles and hexagons can be bought in the shape shop. They are priced according to the number of sides. Circles cost 1p hexagons 6p etc.

What shapes can be bought for 20p?

A good challenge which uses knowledge of shape, counting money and logical thinking. There are a large number of possibilities with this and it is unlikely that all combinations that add up to 20p will be found. Nevertheless it is important to try and work in a logical way.

Shape and money investigation

Resource of the Week: Year 5 Scalene triangles

A lot of work is done on triangles in Primary Schools and by year 5 and 6 most children are familiar with the properties of right angled triangles, equilateral triangles and isosceles trinagles. However, fewer children know about the scalene triangle. A scalene triangle is one which has no sides the same length and no equal angles. Right angled triangles could also be scalene if all the sides are different lengths.

Thanks to MathSphere Ltd for this worksheet: and there are many more similar pages, both on their site and part of the ‘It’s All Figured Out’ CD.

Go to our year 5 shape resources