Growth Point 0

Properties of Shape Growth Points activities

The tasks listed on the following pages are rich tasks from various sources that may be used with multi-level groups or students who are working at a particular level.

* Many of the following tasks will use attribute or pattern blocks to explore 2D shape. Be mindful that these are 3D objects, not shapes. Blocks are used to promote deeper understanding by highlighting specific properties in ways that 2D drawings cannot. As an alternative, teachers could use laminated cut-out shapes.

0. Not apparent

Not yet able to recognise and match simple shapes.

What is an attribute?

Materials: A collection of everyday items that can be found around the classroom or home.

Activity: Introduce the term ‘attribute’ to the students as being the feature of something, in this case a shape, that determines what group(s) it belongs to. Looking at the collection of objects, brainstorm what attributes you might use to sort them. Some of the suggested attributes (e.g. colour, size) may not be geometric attributes but allow them to be included in the brainstorm. Using the class brainstorm, sort the attributes into two groups: those that help you describe shape, and those that do not.

In pairs, ask students to select two objects from the collection which they think have the same attribute. They then need to describe what the attribute is and why they are the same.

For example, if a student says that an object is ‘round’, ask if anyone knows the name of a flat round shape (‘circle’).

You want to encourage students to look at the flat surfaces of objects when describing the attributes. As geometrical vocabulary arises, begin making a list of words students can use to describe shape.

Geometric attributes that could be included are sides, faces, corners and angles. Non-geometric attributes that could be included are size and colour. Further reading on attributes can be found in Key Ideas for Conceptual Development in Mathematics (CEM 2021).

Related key ideas: Features, attributes.

Variations: Name an attribute (e.g. ‘triangle face’) and ask students to find all the objects that match.

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