Properties of Shape - Recognise and Describe 2D Shapes - Planning

The Year 4 summer term lesson plan focuses on the properties of 2D shapes, where students are expected to identify and describe various geometric shapes, including quadrilaterals and triangles. The National Curriculum objectives guide them to recognise acute and obtuse angles, compare angles up to two right angles by size, and classify shapes based on their properties and sizes. They also learn to identify symmetry in 2D shapes presented in different orientations and complete symmetric figures with respect to a given line of symmetry. Key vocabulary for the unit includes terms related to angles, symmetry, and shapes, such as quadrilateral, isosceles, and perpendicular, among others. The lesson utilises resources like shape cut-outs, whiteboards, pens, worksheets, and a presentation to facilitate learning.

During the lesson, children will recap prior knowledge, including the names and properties of 2D shapes from Year 2, and will be introduced to new terms like trapezium and rhombus. They will engage in activities that help them use properties of angles and symmetry to describe shapes in greater detail. Partner work encourages students to describe a hidden shape to their partner, who then attempts to draw it, using the lesson's key vocabulary. Further activities include drawing 2D shapes with precision and reasoning about shapes' placement in a carol diagram using stem sentences. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions such as the belief that 2D shapes only appear in one orientation or can only be named in their regular form. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to recognise, draw, and describe 2D shapes, with differentiation provided for varying levels of depth in understanding and describing both regular and irregular shapes.