Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade R

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify and name circles, squares, and triangles.
• Draw these three basic shapes.
• Sort objects based on their shape.
• Find examples of these shapes all around us.

Lesson summary

This week, we're going on an exciting shape adventure!

We will learn about three special shapes: the circle, the square, and the triangle. Knowing these shapes is important because shapes are everywhere around us in South Africa, from the wheels of taxis to the patterns on our traditional Ndebele houses and even the snacks we eat! Recognizing shapes helps us understand the world and allows us to describe what we see. Think about the shape of a soccer ball, or the roof of a house – these are all made of shapes. By learning about shapes, we build a foundation for understanding geometry and spatial reasoning, which are important for future learning in mathematics and science.

Lesson notes

Let’s learn about these shapes one by one: Circle: What it is: A circle is a round shape. It has no corners and no straight sides. It goes around and around, always staying the same distance from the middle.

How to spot it: Think of a wheel on a car, the sun, a plate, or a 'koeksister' if it's round! They are all circles. You can roll a circle easily.

Example: Imagine a delicious 'fat cake'. It's round like a circle! If you roll it on a table (carefully!), it will roll easily because it is a circle.

Important words: Round, edge, curve.

Square: What it is: A square has four sides. All the sides are the same length. It also has four corners, which we call "right angles". These corners are very pointy and look like the corner of a room.

How to spot it: Think of a window, a tile on the floor, or a cracker. They are all squares. Squares don't roll easily.

Example: Think about the board game "Ludo." The game board often has squares on it.

Important words: Four sides, equal, straight, corner, right angle.

Triangle: What it is: A triangle has three sides. It also has three corners. The sides can be the same length or different lengths.

How to spot it: Think of a slice of watermelon, the roof of a house (sometimes), or a road sign that warns you to be careful.

Example: Imagine a slice of pizza. It’s often cut in the shape of a triangle!

Important words: Three sides, straight, corner.

Why these shapes are important: Shapes are like the building blocks of the world. They help us understand how things are put together.

For example: Circles: Wheels on cars, buses, and taxis help them move.

Squares: Many houses and buildings are made of square or rectangular bricks.

Triangles: Triangles are strong shapes, so they are used to build bridges and roofs.

How to draw them: Circle: Imagine you are holding a rope tied to a stick in the middle. Walk around the stick while holding the rope tight. You will draw a circle! Or, use a round object like a plate to trace around.

Square: Draw a straight line. Then draw another straight line the same length next to it. Draw two more lines to connect them, making sure all the sides are the same length.

Triangle: Draw a straight line. Then draw two more straight lines that meet at a point. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Look at the picture of a South African flag. Can you find any shapes that look like a circle, a square, or a triangle? Describe what you see.

Solution: While the South African flag doesn't have perfect circles, squares, or triangles, the green Y-shape can be seen as two long triangles. The colour blocks are rectangular shapes. There are no obvious circles or squares. We use this to demonstrate that shapes can be subtly present or represented.

Question 2: Lerato has a box of toys. She wants to sort them. She has a ball, a building block that's shaped like a cube, and a toy that looks like a pyramid. Which shapes are most similar to the shapes we learned about today?

Solution: The ball is similar to a circle. The building block (cube) has faces that are squares. The pyramid has faces that are triangles.

Question 3: Draw a picture of a house. Use circles, squares, and triangles in your drawing. Label each shape.

Solution: (This needs to be checked by teacher). The house should have a square or rectangular body. The roof should be a triangle. The windows could be square or rectangular. The sun should be a circle.

Question 4: I am a shape with three sides and three corners. What am I?

Solution: You are a triangle. The key information is "three sides" and "three corners," which are defining characteristics of a triangle.

Question 5: Thabo is building a tower with blocks. He uses square blocks, but he wants to add a round window to his tower. What shape should the window be?

Solution: The window should be a circle. Since windows are usually flat surfaces, the best 2D shape to use is a circle. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Draw a picture of a robot using only circles, squares, and triangles. Find three things in your home or classroom that are shaped like a circle, a square, and a triangle. Write them down. Cut out pictures from magazines or newspapers that show circles, squares, and triangles. Glue them onto a piece of paper and label them. If you combined two triangles, could you make a square? Draw a picture to show how. Which shape is easiest to roll? Why? Which shape has four equal sides? I am thinking of a shape that you might see on a road sign. It has three sides. What shape is it? Sarah is making a sandwich. She cuts it into two pieces. What shape is each piece likely to be if she cuts it diagonally? Imagine you are building a fence. What shape might the holes in the fence be? Why? Can you describe a time when you used shapes to build something or solve a problem?