Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 1

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Overview
• This week, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of Space and Shape! For Grade 1 learners, this topic is not abstract; it is a fundamental part of how they perceive and interact with their world. We will be focusing on identifying and describing basic 2D (two-dimensional) shapes and 3D (three-dimensional) objects. In South Africa, our learners are surrounded by a rich tapestry of shapes and objects, from the circular design of a rondavel to the rectangular shape of the national flag, the spherical shape of a soccer ball, or the box-shape of a pack of Iwisa maize meal. Understanding shapes helps learners make sense of their environment, develop spatial awareness, and build a foundational vocabulary for geometry, which is crucial for later mathematical concepts. This lesson aims to be hands-on, interactive, and rooted in the learner's everyday experiences.
• Learning Objectives (CAPS Aligned)
• By the end of this week, learners should be able to:
• Recognise and name common 2D shapes: circles, squares, and triangles.

Lesson summary

Overview This week, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of Space and Shape! For Grade 1 learners, this topic is not abstract; it is a fundamental part of how they perceive and interact with their world. We will be focusing on identifying and describing basic 2D (two-dimensional) shapes and 3D (three-dimensional) objects. In South Africa, our learners are surrounded by a rich tapestry of shapes and objects, from the circular design of a rondavel to the rectangular shape of the national flag, the spherical shape of a soccer ball, or the box-shape of a pack of Iwisa maize meal.

Lesson notes

This is the core of our learning this week. We will explore the differences between 'flat' shapes and 'fat' objects. What is a 2D Shape? (A 'Flat' Shape) A 2D shape is flat, like a drawing on a piece of paper. You can measure how long it is and how wide it is, but it has no thickness. We will learn about three special 2D shapes.

The Circle: What it looks like: Perfectly round.

Properties: It has only one, long, curved side. It has no corners.

Why it's special: Because it's round, it can roll easily if it's a wheel. South African

Example: A R5 coin is a circle. The sun we draw in our pictures is a circle.

The Square: What it looks like: A boxy shape with four equal sides.

Properties: It has four straight sides that are all the same length. It has four corners.

Why it's special: Its equal sides make it great for tiling floors or making things that fit together perfectly. South African

Example: A window pane in a classroom is often a square. A slice of government bread can be a square.

The Triangle: What it looks like: A shape with three sides.

Properties: It has three straight sides and three corners.

Why it's special: Triangles are very strong shapes, which is why they are used in buildings and bridges. South African

Example: The roof of many houses, especially in drawings, is a triangle. A triangular warning sign on the road tells drivers to be careful. What is a 3D Object? (A 'Fat' Object) A 3D object is not flat. You can hold it in your hand. It has thickness. It takes up space. We call these 'fat' objects to help us remember.

The Ball (Sphere): What it looks like: A perfectly round object, like a soccer ball.

Properties: It has only one curved surface. It has no flat faces and no corners.

Key Action: It can ROLL. You cannot stack balls on top of each other easily because they will just roll off. South African

Example: A soccer ball, a tennis ball, an orange, or a marble (marapo).

The Box (Prism): What it looks like: An object with flat sides, like a cereal box.

Properties: It has many flat surfaces (called faces). It has straight edges and corners.

Key Action: It can SLIDE. Because it has flat faces, you can stack boxes on top of each other to build a tower. South African

Example: A box of Ouma Rusks, a building block, a shoebox, or a brick used to build a house.

Worked example

Example 1: Identifying a Shape

Teacher holds up a picture of a triangle.

Teacher: "What shape is this? Let's check its properties. Let's count the sides together."

Step 1: Point to each side and count: "One, two, three. It has three straight sides."

Step 2: Point to each corner and count: "One, two, three. It has three corners."

Step 3: Conclude: "A shape with three sides and three corners is called a triangle."

Example 2: Can it Roll or Slide?

Teacher places a ball (sphere) and a block (box/prism) on a small ramp or tilted desk.

Teacher: "Which one of these do you think will roll down? The ball or the box? Let's see!"

Step 1: Place the ball on the ramp. It rolls down. "See! The ball rolls because it is round all over."

Step 2: Place the box on the ramp. It might tumble, but it mainly slides down on its flat face. "The box slides because it has a flat face. It cannot roll like the ball."

Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Shape Sorting

Look at the group of shapes below. Draw a big circle around all the squares.

[Image containing 3 squares of different sizes, 2 circles, and 2 triangles]