Properties of shape - Parallel and Perpendicular​ - Planning

In the second week of a Year 3 summer term lesson on Properties of Shape, students are tasked with recognising and identifying various aspects of angles and lines. The National Curriculum objectives for this period include understanding angles as properties of shapes or descriptions of turns, identifying right angles and their combinations to make half, three-quarter, and full turns, and discerning between angles greater and less than a right angle. Additionally, students learn to identify horizontal and vertical lines as well as pairs of perpendicular and parallel lines. They also explore drawing 2-D shapes and constructing 3-D shapes using modelling materials, with an emphasis on recognising these shapes in different orientations and descriptions.

The key vocabulary for the unit encompasses a range of geometric terms, such as position, direction, measure, angle, right angle, parallel, perpendicular, and terms related to 3-D shapes like cube, cuboid, and cylinder. The specific lesson on parallel and perpendicular lines utilises resources like coloured sticks, whiteboards, worksheets, and a presentation to engage students. They begin with a starter activity to recap vocabulary and concepts from the previous week, then move on to class teaching input where they learn the definitions of parallel and perpendicular lines, using practical examples and matchsticks to create these lines in various orientations. The lesson progresses with activities designed to help students identify lines within shapes and apply the correct notation. It addresses common misconceptions, such as the belief that parallel and perpendicular lines must always be vertical or horizontal, and it concludes with a reflective 'Give me five' exercise where students consider what they've learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging. The lesson plans cater for different levels of understanding, from working towards the expected level to achieving greater depth in recognising and drawing these lines within shapes.