2D Shapes Teaching Resources
Bring dimension to 2D shapes for primary students with printable worksheets, digital activities, maths games and more — created by teachers for teachers!
This comprehensive collection of teaching resources includes editable lessons on two-dimensional shapes, aligned to the Australian curriculum and ready to be printed and used in the classroom. Explore the entire collection to find educational games, geometric activities, posters and vocabulary word wall cards to assist your students when they are learning to identify 2D figures by their names and their attributes.
Teaching this part of the maths curriculum for the first time in a while? Read on for a primer from the teachers on the Teach Starter team.
What Are 2D Shapes?
Two-dimensional shapes, or 2D shapes, are shapes that have only length and width, but no depth. Each of these geometric shapes has its own unique characteristics and properties, such as the number of sides, the types of angles and the relationship between the sides and angles.
For example, a square has four equal sides and four right angles, while a circle has no sides and no angles.
Teaching about 2D geometric shapes is crucial in those early years classrooms as these are the building blocks of more complex geometric concepts. Understanding them is an important foundation for developing spatial reasoning skills. It will also lay the groundwork for learning about symmetry, angles and perimeter and area, among other geometry and measurement concepts.
2D Shapes — A Kid-Friendly Definition
Looking to provide a simple definition for your primary students? Here's a kid-friendly definition you can use:
A 2D shape is a flat shape that has only two dimensions — length and width. When something is two-dimensional, it's flat like a drawing or a picture on a piece of paper.
Understanding 2D shapes is important because it helps us recognise and describe the shapes we see around us, and it can also help us with math and other subjects.
2D Shape Examples
A definition is a good start, but providing concrete examples will help students begin to wrap their heads around these two dimensional-objects!
Let's look at some of the common examples of 2D shapes that we teach in the early years:
Square
A square is a 2D shape with four straight sides that are all equal in length and four right angles. It is a type of rectangle and a type of parallelogram.
Rectangle
A rectangle is a 2-dimensional shape that has four straight sides. Unlike a square, a rectangle has two sides that are longer than the other two. It has four right angles and opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length.
Parallelogram
Like a rectangle and square, the parallelogram has four sides and is considered a 2D shape. The four straight sides of a parallelogram are parallel to each other. Opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal in length, and opposite angles are equal in measure. Squares, rectangles and rhombuses are all examples of parallelograms.
Trapezium
A trapezium (or trapezoid) is a quadrilateral shape with two parallel sides and two non-parallel sides. The parallel sides are called the bases of the trapezium, and the non-parallel sides are called the legs. Even though a trapezium has four sides, it is not a parallelogram!
Triangle
A triangle is a two-dimensional shape that has three straight sides and three angles. The angles of a triangle always add up to 180 degrees.
Circle
A circle is a 2D geometric shape that is round and has no straight sides. It is defined as the set of all points in a plane that are at a fixed distance (called the radius) from a single point (called the center).
Ellipse
An ellipse is a 2D shape that is similar to a circle, but its shape is stretched out or elongated. It is defined as the set of all points in a plane whose distances from two fixed points (called the foci) add up to a constant value.
Pentagon
A pentagon is a 2D shape that has five straight sides and five angles. The word 'pentagon' comes from the Greek words 'penta' (meaning 'five') and 'gonia' (meaning 'angle'). Each angle of a regular pentagon measures 108 degrees, and the sum of the angles in a pentagon is 540 degrees.
Hexagon
A hexagon is a 2D shape that has six straight sides and six angles. Each angle of a hexagon measures 120 degrees, and the sum of the angles in a hexagon is 720 degrees. Snowflakes are a common example of hexagons found in nature, and so is the honeycomb!
Rhombus
A rhombus is a 2D shape with four straight sides that are all equal in length. It is a type of parallelogram, and it has opposite angles that are equal in measure.
Octagon
An octagon is an eight-sided 2D shape. A stop sign is an octagon that students might recognise from seeing it along the road on the way to school.
Quadrilateral
A quadrilateral is a 2D shape with four sides and four angles. The sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral is always 360 degrees. The following are all examples of quadrilaterals:
- Square
- Rectangle
- Parallelogram
- Trapezium
- Rhombus
What Are Polygons?
Many of the 2D shapes that students learn about are polygons.
A polygon is a 2D shape that has three or more straight sides and angles. Polygons can have any number of sides, but they must be straight, and they must not cross each other.
The word 'polygon' comes from the Greek words 'poly' (which means 'many') and 'gonia' (which means 'angle').
Here are some common examples of polygons:
- Triangles
- Squares
- Rectangles
- Pentagons
- Hexagons
- Octagons
A circle and an ellipse are both 2D shapes, but they are not polygons. They have a curved shape, while polygons consist of a closed structure with sides.
- Free Plan
Mini-Mystery – Which Key Opens the Door?
Use knowledge of 2-D shapes and right angles to solve the mystery in this fun, logic-based activity.
- Plus Plan
Angles Bingo
Generate excitement about angles in your classroom by playing this whole-class types of angles bingo game.
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Acute, Right and Obtuse Angles – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Identify acute, right and obtuse angles with this cut-and-paste sorting worksheet.
- Free Plan
Drawing 2D Shapes Worksheet
A worksheet with questions regarding 2D shapes.
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Shape Playdough Mats for Fine Motor Development
A set of 6 shape playdough mats to help children develop their fine motor skills and identify different 2D shapes.
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Identifying Lines of Symmetry Task Cards
Use this set of 24 task cards to help your students practise identifying lines of symmetry in 2D shapes.
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Measuring Angles in Images Worksheets
Get your students using their protractors to measure acute, obtuse, right, straight and reflex angles with this set of differentiated angles worksheets.
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Printable Angle Maker Template
Create and classify some angles with this hands-on printable that is super fun to use.
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Measuring Angles Using a Protractor Posters
Remind your students how to measure angles using a protractor with this set of classroom posters.
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2D Shapes Flashcards
Use these 2D shapes flashcards to help familiarise your students with the most common two-dimensional shapes.
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Colour by Missing Angles Worksheets
Get students to find the size of missing angles on right angles, straight angles and angles at a point with this maths worksheet with a difference!
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Line of Symmetry 2D Shapes Interactive Activity
Engage your students in a variety of interactive activities all focused on the line of symmetry for 2D shapes.
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Find the Line of Symmetry Interactive Resource
Have fun with your class using this interactive learning tool to find the line of symmetry on various shapes and objects!
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Right Angle Turn Patterns Worksheet
Teach your students to make shape patterns using right angle turns with this differentiated maths worksheet for Year 3 students.
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Angle Hunt – Interactive Maths Game
Review the six main angle types (acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflex and revolution) with an interactive digital learning activity.
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Measuring Angles – Mystery Picture Worksheet
Find the measure of each angle and use the colour guide to reveal a mystery picture with this worksheet designed for year 5 students.
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2D Shapes Mini Book
Engage your students and inspire them to read and learn about 2-D shapes and with a printable book.
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Supplementary Angles – Year 6 Maths Worksheet
Teach your students to identify and calculate supplementary angles with this one-page maths worksheet.
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Complementary Angles – Year 6 Maths Worksheet
Teach your students to identify and calculate complementary angles with this one-page maths worksheet.
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Tessellation Poster
Making tessellating patterns is fun!
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Tangram Activity
A poster showing examples of tangram shapes and a tangram template.
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Parallel Perpendicular Lines Activity — Board Game
Play this parallel perpendicular lines activity with your students to give them practice identifying line types in a variety of settings.
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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines PPT — Teaching Slides
Download this parallel and perpendicular lines PPT to engage your students as you teach them about different line types!
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Calculating Missing Angles Interactive Activity
Get your students to find missing angles with this interactive game perfect for Year 6 maths lessons.
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Comparing and Naming Angles – Differentiated Worksheets
Assess your students’ understanding of angle types with the set of differentiated student worksheets.
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Classifying Triangles (By Angles) Worksheets
Practise classifying and sorting triangles based on their internal angles with this set of 3 worksheets.
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Shapes and Symmetry — Year 2 Worksheet
Assess year 2 students' understanding of 2D shape symmetry with this set of two worksheets.
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2D Shape Match-up Puzzles
A set of puzzles that match up 2D shapes and their properties.
- Free Plan
Classifying Angles – Sorting Activity
Help students recognise different types of angles in everyday life with this hands-on sorting activity.
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2D Shape and 3D Object Flashcards
Explore 2D shapes and 3D objects with this set of 20 full-page flashcards.
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I Have, Who Has? – Complementary and Supplementary Angles Game
Play a whole-class game to review complementary and supplementary angles.
- Plus Plan
Drawing Parallel Lines and Perpendicular Lines Worksheet Set
Utilise this drawing parallel lines and perpendicular lines worksheet set to give your students practice drawing line types on their own and on 2D shapes.
- 2D Shapes Worksheets
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- 2D Shapes Templates
- 2D Shapes for Preschool/Kindergarten
- 2D Shapes for Foundation Year
- 2D Shapes for Year 1
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- 2D Shapes for Year 7