Shape Detectives: Uncovering Composite Shapes!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:11 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's become shape detectives and discover how big shapes are made by putting smaller shapes together! We'll watch a fun video and then practice finding the basic shapes hidden inside composite shapes.

Video Resource

What are composite shapes - 1st Grade Math (1.GA.2)

Boddle Learning

Duration: 2:11
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Basic Shapes: Squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.
  • Composite Shapes: Shapes made by combining two or more basic shapes.
  • Shape Recognition: Identifying basic shapes within larger, more complex forms.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define a composite shape.
  • Students will be able to identify the basic shapes that make up a composite shape.
  • Students will be able to create simple composite shapes using basic shapes.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what a shape is. Review basic shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle). Ask if they think shapes can be made of other shapes!
  • Video Viewing (3 mins)
    Play the Boddle Learning video: 'What are composite shapes - 1st Grade Math (1.GA.2)'. Encourage students to pay attention to how the composite shapes are formed from the basic shapes.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, discuss what a composite shape is. Ask students to give examples of composite shapes they see around them (e.g., a house, a robot).
  • Shape Exploration (10 mins)
    Provide students with pre-cut shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles, circles). Have them experiment with putting the shapes together to create their own composite shapes. Encourage them to name the shapes they used.
  • Worksheet Activity (10 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with pictures of composite shapes. Have students identify the basic shapes that make up each composite shape. Students can circle or color-code the shapes.
  • Wrap-up (2 mins)
    Review the definition of a composite shape and ask students to share one thing they learned about composite shapes.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Collage
    Provide students with magazines, construction paper, glue, and scissors. Have them create a collage of composite shapes by cutting out and gluing different shapes together.
  • Building Shapes
    Use building blocks to create different composite shapes, and see how many composite shapes you can create.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a composite shape?
  • Can you name some basic shapes?
  • Can you see any composite shapes in our classroom? What shapes are they made of?

Skills Developed

  • Shape Recognition
  • Spatial Reasoning
  • Problem-Solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a composite shape?

Correct Answer: A shape made of smaller shapes.

Question 2:

Which shape is used to make a house?

Correct Answer: A rectangle and a triangle.

Question 3:

A square and two triangles can make what?

Correct Answer: A rocket.

Question 4:

Which of these is a basic shape?

Correct Answer: A circle.

Question 5:

If you put two rectangles together, what do you get?

Correct Answer: A composite shape.

Question 6:

What shape looks like a roof on a house?

Correct Answer: Triangle

Question 7:

What shape has four sides that are all the same length?

Correct Answer: Square

Question 8:

A composite shape always contains ______.

Correct Answer: Other shapes

Question 9:

If you put two half-circles together, what shape do you create?

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 10:

How many triangles do you see in a triangle?

Correct Answer: One

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A shape made of smaller shapes is called a _______ shape.

Correct Answer: composite

Question 2:

A house is made of a rectangle and a ________.

Correct Answer: triangle

Question 3:

A square has four equal ________.

Correct Answer: sides

Question 4:

A basic shape that is round is a ________.

Correct Answer: circle

Question 5:

Putting shapes together is like building with ________.

Correct Answer: blocks

Question 6:

A shape with three sides is a _______.

Correct Answer: triangle

Question 7:

Four triangles and a circle can make a ________.

Correct Answer: flower

Question 8:

A door is the shape of a ________.

Correct Answer: rectangle

Question 9:

A ________ is a closed shape.

Correct Answer: shape

Question 10:

The video said Carl built a ______

Correct Answer: house

Educational Standards

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.') 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.

Teaching Materials

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