Look at these two: a floor tile and the classroom door. Both have four corners. So are they the same shape? What's different? Look hard at the sides.
Both of these shapes have four corners and four straight sides. Here is how we tell them apart:
Square: all four sides are the same length.
Rectangle: two long sides and two short sides.
You will see each shape drawn big on the board, or the real object held up, so you can see all of its sides. Then the class sorts the name: all four sides the same, or two long and two short?
When we turn a square on its corner, it is still a square. A lunchbox lid that looks almost square still needs every side to match. If two sides are a bit longer, it is a rectangle.
Your turn with the class. First we draw the shape big (or hold up the object) so we can see the sides. Then we drag the name into SQUARE or RECTANGLE.
Square or rectangle?
In your maths copy, draw a square and a rectangle side by side. Trace the square's four sides with your finger and say same, same, same, same. Write square under the first drawing and rectangle under the second. Then tick the square.
This is the challenge round. Draw or hold each shape first, check the sides, then sort the name into SQUARE or RECTANGLE. The almost-square lunchbox lid is the sneaky one: don't let it fool you.
Sort square or rectangle
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