List

Properties of shapes KS2

This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.

Triple Cubes
problem
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Triple cubes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.

Four Triangles Puzzle
problem
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Four triangles puzzle

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Cut four triangles from a square as shown in the picture. How many different shapes can you make by fitting the four triangles back together?

Sorting Logic Blocks
problem
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Sorting logic blocks

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This activity focuses on similarities and differences between shapes.

Seeing Squares
problem
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Seeing squares

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.

The Third Dimension
problem
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The third dimension

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Here are four cubes joined together. How many other arrangements of four cubes can you find? Can you draw them on dotty paper?

Square Corners
problem
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Square corners

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

What is the greatest number of counters you can place on the grid below without four of them lying at the corners of a square?

Where are they?
problem
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Where are they?

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Use the isometric grid paper to find the different polygons.

Building Blocks
problem
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Building blocks

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Here are some pictures of 3D shapes made from cubes. Can you make these shapes yourself?
Diagonally Square
problem

Diagonally square

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Ayah conjectures that the diagonals of a square meet at right angles. Do you agree? How could you find out?
Round a hexagon
problem
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Round a hexagon

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This problem shows that the external angles of an irregular hexagon add to a circle.

Stick images
problem
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Stick images

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This task requires learners to explain and help others, asking and answering questions.

Name That Triangle!
problem
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Name that triangle!

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Can you sketch triangles that fit in the cells in this grid? Which ones are impossible? How do you know?

National Flags
problem
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National flags

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
This problem explores the shapes and symmetries in some national flags.
How Safe Are You?
problem
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How safe are you?

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
How much do you have to turn these dials by in order to unlock the safes?
Six Places to Visit
problem
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Six places to visit

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you describe the journey to each of the six places on these maps? How would you turn at each junction?
The Numbers give the design
problem
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The numbers give the design

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.
Shape Draw
problem
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Shape draw

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Use the information on these cards to draw the shape that is being described.

Nine-Pin Triangles
problem
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Nine-pin triangles

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

How many different triangles can you make on a circular pegboard that has nine pegs?

What shape?
problem
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What shape?

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This task develops spatial reasoning skills. By framing and asking questions a member of the team has to find out what mathematical object they have chosen.

Let Us Reflect
problem
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Let us reflect

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Where can you put the mirror across the square so that you can still "see" the whole square? How many different positions are possible?

Counters in the middle
problem
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Counters in the middle

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

This task depends on groups working collaboratively, discussing and reasoning to agree a final product.

Guess What?
problem
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Guess what?

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you find out which 3D shape your partner has chosen before they work out your shape?
Seeing Parallelograms
problem
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Seeing parallelograms

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a parallelogram.

Bracelets
problem
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Bracelets

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Investigate the different shaped bracelets you could make from 18 different spherical beads. How do they compare if you use 24 beads?

A Puzzling Cube
problem
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A puzzling cube

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Here are the six faces of a cube - in no particular order. Here are three views of the cube. Can you deduce where the faces are in relation to each other and record them on the net of this cube?

Overlapping Again
problem
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Overlapping again

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
What shape is the overlap when you slide one of these shapes half way across another? Can you picture it in your head? Use the interactivity to check your visualisation.
Arranging cubes
problem
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Arranging cubes

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

A task which depends on members of the group working collaboratively to reach a single goal.

Making Rectangles
problem
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Making rectangles

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

A task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

Move those Halves
problem
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Move those halves

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

For this task, you'll need an A4 sheet and two A5 transparent sheets. Decide on a way of arranging the A5 sheets on top of the A4 sheet and explore ...

Baravelle
problem
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Baravelle

Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

What can you see? What do you notice? What questions can you ask?

Sponge Sections
problem
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Sponge sections

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

You have been given three shapes made out of sponge: a sphere, a cylinder and a cone. Your challenge is to find out how to cut them to make different shapes for printing.

Shapes on the Playground
problem
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Shapes on the playground

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Sally and Ben were drawing shapes in chalk on the school playground. Can you work out what shapes each of them drew using the clues?
Quad match
problem
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Quad match

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

A task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

Stringy Quads
problem
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Stringy quads

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!

Making Cuboids
problem
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Making cuboids

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Let's say you can only use two different lengths - 2 units and 4 units. Using just these 2 lengths as the edges how many different cuboids can you make?
Seeing Rhombuses
problem

Seeing rhombuses

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a rhombus.

Cut Nets
problem
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Cut nets

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

Each of the nets of nine solid shapes has been cut into two pieces. Can you see which pieces go together?

Egyptian Rope
problem
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Egyptian rope

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star

The ancient Egyptians were said to make right-angled triangles using a rope with twelve equal sections divided by knots. What other triangles could you make if you had a rope like this?

Quadrilaterals
problem
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Quadrilaterals

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

How many DIFFERENT quadrilaterals can be made by joining the dots on the 8-point circle?

Board Block Challenge
problem
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Board block challenge

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Choose the size of your pegboard and the shapes you can make. Can you work out the strategies needed to block your opponent?

Triangles all Around
problem
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Triangles all around

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
Can you find all the different triangles on these peg boards, and find their angles?
Inky Cube
problem
Favourite

Inky cube

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

This cube has ink on each face which leaves marks on paper as it is rolled. Can you work out what is on each face and the route it has taken?

Symmetry Challenge
problem
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Symmetry challenge

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
How many symmetric designs can you make on this grid? Can you find them all?
ReflectoR ! RotcelfeR
problem
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ReflectoR ! RotcelfeR

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Can you place the blocks so that you see the reflection in the picture?

Olympic Turns
problem
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Olympic turns

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

This task looks at the different turns involved in different Olympic sports as a way of exploring the mathematics of turns and angles.

Making Spirals
problem
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Making spirals

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Can you make a spiral for yourself? Explore some different ways to create your own spiral pattern and explore differences between different spirals.

Cut it Out
problem
Favourite

Cut it out

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star

Can you dissect an equilateral triangle into 6 smaller ones? What number of smaller equilateral triangles is it NOT possible to dissect a larger equilateral triangle into?



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Primary Properties of Shape STEM footer
 

You may also be interested in this collection of activities from the STEM Learning website, that complement the NRICH activities above.