Circles, squares and triangles

Shapes are hiding in this picture. How many can you find?

MathAges 3–415 minutes3 pagesEnglish textInk-light

Being written

This one is planned but not finished yet. Everything below is what it will contain.

Not drawn yet

I can name a circle, a square and a triangle, and find them.

How the fifteen minutes go

The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.

Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.

Support

Circles and squares only.

Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.

Core

All three shapes.

The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.

Challenge

Count how many of each and write the number.

Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.

The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.

The answers

7 circles, 5 squares, 4 triangles.

If they get stuck

Give them one shape only, and hunt for it. Three at once is a lot to hold.

Common mistakes

Calling any four-sided shape a square. A rectangle is a good argument to have; let them win it if they can explain.
Colouring by position rather than shape.

When they finish early

Build the three shapes from sticks or straws. A triangle is the only one that will not wobble.