Shape Up with Geoboards! Exploring Shapes and Angles

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:26 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's learn about shapes and angles using a fun tool called a geoboard! We'll make triangles, squares, and more, and count how many sides and angles they have.

Video Resource

Math Lesson: Making Geometric Shapes on a Geoboard; Identifying the Angles of a Shape

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 3:26
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Geometric shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid)
  • Sides of a shape
  • Angles (corners) of a shape

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify triangles, squares, rectangles, and trapezoids.
  • Students will be able to count the number of sides of a shape.
  • Students will be able to identify and count the number of angles (corners) of a shape.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by watching the YouTube video 'Math Lesson: Making Geometric Shapes on a Geoboard; Identifying the Angles of a Shape' by The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom. Before starting the video, ask students if they know what shapes are. Discuss different shapes they see around them.
  • Geoboard Shape Creation (15 mins)
    Give each student a geoboard and rubber bands. Guide them to recreate the shapes shown in the video (triangle, rectangle, square, trapezoid). Emphasize the correct way to place and remove the rubber bands to avoid them snapping. As students create each shape, have them count the sides and angles aloud.
  • Shape Identification and Counting (10 mins)
    Call out different shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid). Have students quickly create the shape on their geoboards and then state the number of sides and angles. Vary the shapes to reinforce understanding.
  • Shape Drawing (10 mins)
    Have students draw the shapes they created on the geoboard on a piece of paper. Instruct them to label the sides and angles.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Hunt
    Hide shape cutouts (triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid) around the classroom. Have students find the shapes and identify them. Once they find a shape, they must tell you how many sides and angles it has.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?
  • Can you find examples of triangles, squares, rectangles, and trapezoids in the classroom?

Skills Developed

  • Shape recognition
  • Counting
  • Fine motor skills
  • Spatial reasoning

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

How many sides does a triangle have?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 2:

A square has how many corners?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Which shape has 4 sides and 4 corners?

Correct Answer: Square

Question 4:

What is another name for a corner of a shape?

Correct Answer: Angle

Question 5:

Which of these is NOT a shape we learned about today?

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 6:

How many sides does a rectangle have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 7:

A trapezoid has how many angles?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 8:

What shape is like a square, but it can have two long sides and two short sides?

Correct Answer: Rectangle

Question 9:

When we put a rubber band on the geoboard, what do we have to do?

Correct Answer: Hold it tight

Question 10:

What tool did we use today to learn about shapes?

Correct Answer: Geoboard

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A shape with three sides is called a ______.

Correct Answer: triangle

Question 2:

The place where two sides meet is called an ______.

Correct Answer: angle

Question 3:

A ______ has four sides that are all the same length.

Correct Answer: square

Question 4:

A rectangle has ____ sides and _____ angles.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

A four-sided shape with only one pair of parallel sides is a ______.

Correct Answer: trapezoid

Question 6:

We used _________ bands to make shapes on the geoboard.

Correct Answer: rubber

Question 7:

A triangle has _____ angles.

Correct Answer: 3

Question 8:

Squares, rectangles, and trapezoids all have ______ sides.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 9:

The geoboard helps us learn about ________.

Correct Answer: shapes

Question 10:

An angle is also called a ________.

Correct Answer: corner

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.2:Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape. (Students do not need to learn formal names such as "right rectangular prism.")

Teaching Materials

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