Standard

Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.

Student language:

• "I can place shapes into categories depending upon their attributes."
• "I can recognize and draw quadrilaterals such as rhombuses, rectangles and squares, as well as other examples of quadrilaterals."

Explanation

About the Math, Learning Targets, and Rigor

In 2nd grade, students identify and draw triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons.

The focus in 3rd grade is on identifying and describing properties of two-dimensional shapes in more precise ways using properties that are shared rather than the appearances of individual shapes. For example, a quadrilateral must be a closed figure with four straight sides, has four right angles, and parallel sides on opposite sides.

Students should give examples and non-examples, as well as examples and non-examples drawn by students of shapes in a particular category.

Examples

• Parallelograms include: squares, rectangles, rhombi, or other shapes that have two pairs of parallel sides.
• Quadrilaterals include all types of parallelograms, trapezoids and other four-sided figures.

Common Misconception

Students may identify a square as a “non-rectangle” or a “non-rhombus” based on limited images they see. They do not recognize that a square is a rectangle because it has all of the properties of a rectangle. They may list properties of each shape separately, but not see the interrelationships between the shapes. Have students list the properties of each and have them discover that squares are rectangles.

Resources

Videos

• Khan Academy
  • scroll to 3.G.1, click on a skill, watch videos on left side in each skill
• Learn Zillion
• Virtual Nerd

EngageNY Lessons

Extra Practice

• North Carolina Tasks
• Illustrative Math Tasks
• Howard County Tasks
  • Click on 3rd grade at bottom, then 3.G.1
• Common Core Sheets

Released Assessment Questions

PARCC

3.G.1

Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories

STUDENT SAMPLE RESPONSE

Performance Indicators: 3.G.1

Level 5: Exceeds Expectations

• Understands the properties of quadrilaterals and the subcategories of quadrilaterals.
• Recognizes and sorts examples of quadrilaterals that have shared attributes and shows that the shared attributes can define a larger category.
• Draws examples and non-examples of quadrilaterals with specific attributes.

Level 4: Meets Expectations

• Understands the properties of quadrilaterals and the subcategories of quadrilaterals.
• Recognizes examples of quadrilaterals that have shared attributes and that the shared attributes can define a larger category.
• Draws examples of quadrilaterals with specific attributes.