List

Properties of Shapes KS1

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

Cubes Cut into Four Pieces
problem
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Cubes Cut into Four Pieces

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Eight children each had a cube made from modelling clay. They cut them into four pieces which were all exactly the same shape and size. Whose pieces are the same? Can you decide who made each set?
Exploded Squares
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Exploded Squares

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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This practical activity challenges you to create symmetrical designs by cutting a square into strips.
Paper Partners
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Paper Partners

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you describe a piece of paper clearly enough for your partner to know which piece it is?
Inside Triangles
problem
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Inside Triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How many different triangles can you draw on the dotty grid which each have one dot in the middle?
Poly Plug Rectangles
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Poly Plug Rectangles

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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The computer has made a rectangle and will tell you the number of spots it uses in total. Can you find out where the rectangle is?
Shapes in the Bag
eyfs_activity

Shapes in the Bag

Age
3 to 5
In this task, children put their hands into a bag and describe what shape they think they can feel and why.
Building Towers
eyfs_activity

Building Towers

Age
3 to 5
In this task, children will explore 3D shapes when selecting which shapes to use in their tower.
Exploring 2D Shapes
eyfs_activity

Exploring 2D Shapes

Age
3 to 5
In this task, children will make shapes out of loops of string and discuss what they notice about their shapes.
Making Footprints
eyfs_activity

Making Footprints

Age
3 to 5
In this activity, children will develop an awareness of the faces of 3D shapes by using them to make 'footprints' in soft dough.
Making a Picture
eyfs_activity

Making a Picture

Age
3 to 5
This task provides an opportunity for children to work together to make a picture, discussing with each other which position they want to put each shape in.
Data shapes
problem
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Data shapes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Sara and Will were sorting some pictures of shapes on cards. "I'll collect the circles," said Sara. "I'll take the red ones," answered Will. Can you see any cards they would both want?

Three Squares
problem
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Three Squares

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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What is the greatest number of squares you can make by overlapping three squares?

Overlaps
problem
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Overlaps

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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What does the overlap of these two shapes look like? Try picturing it in your head and then use some cut-out shapes to test your prediction.

Jig Shapes
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Jig Shapes

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you each work out what shape you have part of on your card? What will the rest of it look like?

What's happening?
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What's happening?

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Shapes are added to other shapes. Can you see what is happening? What is the rule?

Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1
problem
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Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Are these statements relating to calculation and properties of shapes always true, sometimes true or never true?

Let's Investigate Triangles
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Let's Investigate Triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Vincent and Tara are making triangles with the class construction set. They have a pile of strips of different lengths. How many different triangles can they make?

Colouring Triangles
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Colouring Triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Explore ways of colouring this set of triangles. Can you make symmetrical patterns?

Chain of Changes
problem
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Chain of Changes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Arrange the shapes in a line so that you change either colour or shape in the next piece along. Can you find several ways to start with a blue triangle and end with a red circle?

Complete the Square
problem
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Complete the Square

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Complete the squares - but be warned some are trickier than they look!

Shapely Lines
problem
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Shapely Lines

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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This challenge invites you to create your own picture using just straight lines. Can you identify shapes with the same number of sides and decorate them in the same way?

Paper Patchwork 1
problem
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Paper Patchwork 1

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you work out what shape is made when this piece of paper is folded up using the crease pattern shown?

Paper Patchwork 2
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Paper Patchwork 2

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Have a go at making a few of these shapes from paper in different sizes. What patterns can you create?

Triangle or No Triangle?
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Triangle or No Triangle?

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Here is a selection of different shapes. Can you work out which ones are triangles, and why?

Building with Solid Shapes
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Building with Solid Shapes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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We have a box of cubes, triangular prisms, cones, cuboids, cylinders and tetrahedrons. Which of the buildings would fall down if we tried to make them?

Skeleton Shapes
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Skeleton Shapes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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How many balls of modelling clay and how many straws does it take to make these skeleton shapes?

Shadow Play
problem
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Shadow Play

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Here are shadows of some 3D shapes. What shapes could have made them?

Matching Triangles
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Matching Triangles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you sort these triangles into three different families and explain how you did it?



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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.