A circle
A circle is round and flat.
A circle has a curved edge and no corners.
Year 1
Recognise and name common 2-D shapes, including rectangles, squares, circles and triangles
Recognise common flat shapes by name and appearance, and notice that 2-D shapes stay flat.
Lesson overview
Geometry - properties of shape
2-D shapes are flat. They do not have thickness like a solid object. In Year 1, we learn to recognise and name common flat shapes such as rectangles, squares, circles and triangles by looking carefully at what each one looks like.
A square
A square is flat and has 4 equal sides.
A square has 4 straight sides and 4 corners.
A triangle and a rectangle
Triangles and rectangles are also flat shapes.
A triangle has 3 sides. A rectangle has 4 sides.
Worked example
Mia sees a flat shape with 3 straight sides. What is it called?
- Look carefully at the shape.
- Count the straight sides.
- The shape has 3 sides.
- A flat shape with 3 sides is called a triangle.
Answer: triangle
Try it
Look at the flat shape and choose the correct name.
Question 1
Which shape is a circle?
Question 2
What is the name of this flat shape?
Question 3
Which shape has 3 straight sides?
Question 4
Which shape stays flat?
Question 5
What is the name of this flat shape?
Common mistakes
These reminders help when recognising flat shapes.
- Calling a rectangle a square when the sides are not all equal.
- Choosing a shape by colour instead of its features.
- Forgetting that 2-D shapes are flat.
Related topics
These connect closely to early shape recognition.
- Sort and classify objects by colour, size and shape.
- Recognise and name common 3-D shapes, including cuboids, cubes, pyramids and spheres.