Describing 2D shapes using properties: number of sides, vertices, types of angles, parallel sides, equal sides.
Where your child meets this in real life: Describing shapes precisely when giving instructions or solving puzzles
SEAGReady breaks describe shape properties into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Count and state the number of sides and vertices in 2D shapes
Identify parallel sides and equal-length sides in 2D shapes
Identify and describe the types of angles within 2D shapes
Three free sample questions from our describe shape properties course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Sean is describing shapes for a quiz at his school in Lisburn. How many sides does a pentagon have?
Answer: A. 5 sides
A pentagon has 5 sides. The prefix 'penta' means five, just like a pentathlon has 5 events. Answer: 5 sides
Stuck? Start here: Think about the prefix 'penta' - what number does it relate to?
Niamh is looking at a rectangle on her classroom wall in Bangor. How many pairs of parallel sides does the rectangle have?
Answer: B. 2 pairs
A rectangle has 2 pairs of parallel sides. Pair 1: The top and bottom sides are parallel. Pair 2: The left and right sides are parallel. Answer: 2 pairs
Stuck? Start here: Parallel sides are like train tracks - they go in the same direction and never meet.
Connor is looking at a square tile in his kitchen in Newry. How many right angles does a square have?
Answer: C. 4 right angles
A square has 4 right angles. Each corner of a square is exactly 90 degrees. You can check with a right-angle checker or the corner of a piece of paper. Answer: 4 right angles
Stuck? Start here: A right angle is exactly 90 degrees - like the corner of a book.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Ciara is describing shapes for a guessing game at school.
How many sides and vertices does a hexagon have?
hexagon properties
Step 1 of 4
Ciara is describing shapes for a guessing game at school.
How many sides and vertices does a hexagon have?
A hexagon has 6 sides and 6 vertices.
The key insight: In any polygon, the number of sides always equals the number of vertices!
Watch out: A hexagon has 6 sides and 8 vertices. Confusing sides with vertices - vertices are only the corner points, not the edges.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in describe shape properties, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with describe shape properties? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.