Distinguish between defining and non-defining attributes and create shapes with defining attributes by:
Building and drawing triangles, rectangles, squares, trapezoids, hexagons, circles.
Building cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, spheres, and cylinders.
Step 1: Lesson Standards & Learning Goals
In this standard, students distinguish between defining and non-defining attributes of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes to identify and create shapes. When students are given the name of a shape, they can build or draw the two-dimensional shapes listed: triangles, rectangles, squares, trapezoids, hexagons, and circles. Students also use materials to build the three-dimensional shapes that are listed: cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, spheres, and cylinders.
Students understand that defining attributes are always present features that classify a particular object such as number of sides, lengths of sides, and number of angles. They also understand that non-defining attributes are features that may be present, but do not identify what the shape is called (e.g., color, size, orientation, etc.).
*First grade students are only expected to know the number of faces in three-dimensional shapes and are not expected to know the number of edges and corners (vertices) in three-dimensional shapes.
*The words in parentheses in the chart are for teacher knowledge. These vocabulary words are not an expectation for first grade, however, exposure to the words builds knowledge.
How can I classify two- and three-dimensional shapes using their attributes?
What is an attribute?
Compare and contrast two-dimensional shapes with three-dimensional shapes.
What are the defining characteristics of common two-dimensional shapes?
How do we classify shapes based on the number of sides and vertices they have?
How can we distinguish between shapes that are closed and shapes that are not closed?
attribute
circle
closed shape
cone
corner
cube
cylinder
face
hexagon
open shape
rectangle
rectangular prism
side
sphere
square
trapezoid
triangle
Exposure only
congruent
intersect
right angle
vertex
Describe the attributes of shapes using geometric language.
Build and draw two dimensional figures.
Build three-dimensional figures.
Distinguish between defining and non-defining attributes.
Defining attributes are always present features that classify a particular object such as number of sides, lengths of sides, and number of angles.
Non-defining attributes are features that may be present, but do not identify what the shape is called (e.g., color, size, orientation, etc.).
Step 2: Assessment
Step 3: Lesson Instructions
Exploration or Experience
Give students a collection of shapes and ask them to compare/contrast the shapes. Pose the question - What do you notice about each shape?
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Tools 4 NC Teachers
Cluster 6 Lessons
Math Expressions - (Barnes and Hearne) - Standards Alignment
Motivation Math
Think Up! Math
Khan Academy - 1st Grade Math
Eureka Math/Engage NY Free Resources
G1 M5 Topic A: Attributes of Shapes
Zearn Math - Online Support Practice for Eureka Math (Requires free account)
North Carolina Collaborative for Mathematics Learning - Grade 1 Instructional Framework
NCDPI Resources
Grade 1 Math Assessment Practice Prompts
