Properties of shape - Right angles in shapes​ - Planning

In Year 3's exploration of the Properties of Shape, Lesson 7 delves into the world of right angles within various shapes. The lesson is structured with a starter activity that revisits prior knowledge of turns and angles, asking students to consider the direction one would face after making a quarter, half, or full turn from the south. The concept of an angle is reinforced with practical examples, encouraging children to find angles in the classroom and even using their fingers to demonstrate. The key vocabulary for the lesson includes terms such as 'turn', 'angle', 'right angle', 'clockwise', 'anti-clockwise', and various types of turns, which are crucial for understanding the orientation and properties of shapes.

The main activities involve hands-on learning where children are introduced to the symbol for a right angle and are encouraged to identify right angles in different orientations to understand that they are not restricted to vertical and horizontal lines. A practical 'right angle hunt' around the classroom allows children to use right angle detectors to identify and reason about right angles in real-life contexts, such as in 2D shapes and on clocks. The lesson aims to correct common misconceptions, such as the belief that triangles can't have right angles or that all four-sided shapes have four right angles. The plenary includes a reflective 'Give me five' exercise, where students articulate what they've learned, the skills used, and what they found challenging. Differentiated activities cater to varying levels of understanding, from working towards the expected level to achieving greater depth in recognizing right angles in diverse orientations.