Properties of Shape - Quadrilaterals - Presentation

The series of lessons on quadrilaterals aim to teach students to recognise and name different four-sided shapes. The term 'quadrilateral' is broken down to help children understand that 'quad' means four and 'lateral' refers to sides, thus indicating the defining characteristic of these shapes. Students are prompted to discuss the commonalities among various quadrilaterals and to explore the properties of specific types, such as rectangles, rhombuses, squares, parallelograms, and trapeziums. For example, a rectangle is defined by having four right angles and opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length, while a rhombus has all sides of equal length and opposite angles that are equal, with diagonals intersecting at right angles.

In addition to defining each quadrilateral, the lessons include various activities that encourage students to apply their knowledge. They are asked to label different quadrilaterals using a word bank, describe the shapes based on given criteria, and discuss the unique properties that make squares special rectangles and rhombuses special parallelograms. Furthermore, students engage in hands-on tasks such as constructing different quadrilaterals with straws of specified lengths and calculating their perimeters. These activities not only reinforce the properties of each shape but also integrate mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.