Shape Detectives: Counting Sides and Corners!

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:19 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's become shape detectives! We'll learn how to sort shapes by counting their sides and corners, just like Cousin Fal!

Video Resource

Cousin Fal's shape collection | Geometry | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 4:19
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Shapes have sides and corners.
  • We can sort shapes by the number of sides they have.
  • We can sort shapes by the number of corners they have.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the sides and corners of a shape.
  • Students will be able to count the number of sides and corners of a shape.
  • Students will be able to classify shapes based on the number of sides and corners.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what shapes they already know. Show them some basic shapes (square, circle, triangle) and ask them to name them. Introduce the idea that shapes have different features that help us tell them apart.
  • Video Time with Cousin Fal (7 mins)
    Play the YouTube video 'Cousin Fal's shape collection | Geometry | Early Math | Khan Academy'. Encourage students to follow along and count the sides and corners of the shapes shown in the video.
  • Shape Sorting Activity (10 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet containing a variety of shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles). Have them count the sides and corners of each shape and then sort them into groups based on the number of sides (e.g., shapes with 3 sides, shapes with 4 sides, shapes with 0 sides).
  • Shape Drawing (8 mins)
    Ask students to draw their own shapes with a specific number of sides. For example, "Draw a shape with 3 sides." "Draw a shape with 4 corners." This reinforces the connection between the number of sides/corners and the shape itself.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Scavenger Hunt
    Have students look around the classroom for real-world objects that are specific shapes. Ask them to identify the shape and count its sides (if applicable).

Discussion Questions

  • What is a side of a shape?
  • What is a corner of a shape?
  • How can counting sides and corners help us know what shape it is?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Shape recognition
  • Classification
  • Observation

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

How many sides does a triangle have?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 2:

How many corners does a square have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Which shape has zero sides?

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 4:

How many sides does a rectangle have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

A shape has 3 corners. What shape is it?

Correct Answer: Triangle

Question 6:

A shape has 4 sides and 4 corners. Which shape could it be?

Correct Answer: Square

Question 7:

What do we call the place where two sides meet?

Correct Answer: Corner

Question 8:

Which of these has sides that are straight?

Correct Answer: Rectangle

Question 9:

How many sides does a shape need to have to be called a quadrilateral?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 10:

What can we count to find out what shape it is?

Correct Answer: Sides and Corners

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A triangle has ____ sides.

Correct Answer: 3

Question 2:

A square has ____ corners.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

A circle has ____ sides.

Correct Answer: 0

Question 4:

A rectangle has ____ sides.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

A corner is where two ____ meet.

Correct Answer: sides

Question 6:

We can sort shapes by counting their sides and ___________.

Correct Answer: corners

Question 7:

A shape with straight sides has __________.

Correct Answer: corners

Question 8:

A square is a special kind of __________.

Correct Answer: rectangle

Question 9:

A shape that has four sides is called a ____________.

Correct Answer: quadrilateral

Question 10:

When we count the sides and corners we can __________ the shapes.

Correct Answer: classify

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.OA.C.5:Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).

Teaching Materials

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