Angles in shapes
A square has four corners, and each corner is an angle.
4 angles4 equal sides
Corners are one place where we notice angles.
Year 3
Recognise angles as a property of shape or a description of a turn
Understand that angles appear in corners of shapes and also describe how far something turns.
Lesson overview
Geometry - properties of shape
An angle is made when two lines meet. We can see angles in the corners of shapes, and we can also use angles to describe turns, such as quarter turns and half turns.
Angles as turns
Turning from up to right is a quarter turn.
facing up
facing right
A turn changes direction.
Angles describe movement
A half turn changes direction more than a quarter turn.
90 degrees
180 degrees
Bigger turns make bigger changes in direction.
Worked example
What turn changes a direction from up to down?
start
finish
- Start facing up.
- To face down, the direction must reverse.
- That is more than a quarter turn.
- It is a half turn.
Try it
Think about whether you are looking at a corner in a shape or a change in direction.
Question 1
Where can we find angles?
Question 2
What turn takes you from up to right?
up to right
Question 3
How many angles does a triangle have?
count the corners
Question 4
What turn takes you from left to right?
left to right
Question 5
Which statement is correct?
Common mistakes
Watch for these when working through the lesson.
- Thinking angle only means a turn and not a corner.
- Mixing up quarter turn and half turn.
- Forgetting that angles are made by two lines meeting.
Related topics
These ideas fit closely with this lesson.
- Identify right angles and recognise that two make a half-turn, three make three quarters of a turn and four make a complete turn.
- Identify whether angles are greater than or less than a right angle.