Shape Detectives: Circles and Squares!

Math Grades 1st Grade 8:18 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's become shape detectives! In this lesson, we'll learn all about circles and squares. We'll find out how many sides and corners (angles) they have, and then go on a shape hunt to find them all around us!

Video Resource

Grade 1: Math Lesson #6 Identifying a Circle and a Square and the Number of its Sides and Angles

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 8:18
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Circles have no sides or corners (angles).
  • Squares have four sides and four corners (angles).
  • Identifying shapes in the real world.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify a circle and a square.
  • Students will be able to state the number of sides and angles (corners) of a square.
  • Students will be able to find circles and squares in their environment.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Start by asking students if they've ever been on a shape hunt. Introduce the shapes they will be looking for: circles and squares. Briefly review what a circle and square looks like.
  • Shape Review (5 mins)
    Using the video as a guide, clearly define a circle as a round shape with no sides or corners. Define a square as a shape with four equal sides and four corners (angles). Emphasize counting the sides and angles of the square.
  • Video Shape Hunt (5 mins)
    Play the video from the beginning, pausing when Mrs. Lawson finds a shape. Ask the students to identify the shape and count its sides and angles (if applicable). Actively engage students by asking questions about the shapes seen in the video.
  • Classroom Shape Hunt (10 mins)
    Have students look around the classroom (or their home if learning remotely) to find circles and squares. Students should verbally identify the shapes they find and describe their attributes (number of sides and angles).
  • Wrap up (5 mins)
    Recap what they have learned and re-emphasize where shapes can be found in the real world.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Drawing
    Have students draw a circle and a square on a piece of paper. Then, ask them to label the sides and angles of the square.
  • Shape Collage
    Provide students with magazines or newspapers and have them cut out pictures of circles and squares to create a collage.

Discussion Questions

  • Can you name some things that are shaped like a circle?
  • What is different about a circle and a square?
  • Can you name some things that are shaped like a square?

Skills Developed

  • Shape Recognition
  • Counting
  • Observation
  • Critical Thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

A circle has how many sides?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 2:

A square has how many corners?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Which shape is round like a ball?

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 4:

Which shape has 4 equal sides?

Correct Answer: Square

Question 5:

How many angles does a circle have?

Correct Answer: 0

Question 6:

How many angles does a square have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 7:

The wheels on a car are usually shaped like a...

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 8:

A window is often shaped like a...

Correct Answer: Square

Question 9:

Squares are made up of _______ lines.

Correct Answer: Straight

Question 10:

Circles are made up of _______ lines.

Correct Answer: Curvy

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A square has four ____.

Correct Answer: sides

Question 2:

A _____ is round and has no sides.

Correct Answer: circle

Question 3:

The corners of a square are called ____.

Correct Answer: angles

Question 4:

A square has _____ angles.

Correct Answer: four

Question 5:

A circle has _____ sides.

Correct Answer: zero

Question 6:

We can go on a shape _____ to find shapes everywhere!

Correct Answer: hunt

Question 7:

A square looks like a box. It has _____ sides.

Correct Answer: four

Question 8:

The line around a circle is always the same distance from the _____.

Correct Answer: center

Question 9:

A circle has no _____. It's round all the way!

Correct Answer: corners

Question 10:

A door is shaped like a _____. But it has corners.

Correct Answer: square

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.1:Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size); build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes. CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.3:Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or four of the shares. Understand for these examples that decomposing into more equal shares creates smaller shares.

Teaching Materials

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