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.
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Advanced Angles Teaching Slides
Teach your students about advanced angle types with this teaching presentation perfect for upper primary school maths lessons.
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Advanced Angles Factsheet
Teach your students about angles and their properties with with this easy reference fact sheet.
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Types of Triangles Poster
A poster depicting and explaining the four types of triangles.
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Rotational Symmetry Teaching Presentation
Share this 12-slide rotational symmetry teaching presentation with your Grade 4s to expose them to the concept of rotational symmetry.
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Pattern Block Butterflies Symmetry Task Cards
Bring some colourful fun into your classroom with these symmetry butterflies, a hands-on learning activity for young students to explore the concept of symmetry.
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Identifying Lines of Symmetry Poster
Display this poster in your classroom as a reference tool for students to learn to identify lines of symmetry.
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Angle Word Problems Teaching Slides
Help your students tackle angle word problems with ease using this step-by-step problem-solving guide.
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Batty for 2D Shapes - Halloween Shapes Worksheet
Go batty and identify the 2D shapes with a printable Halloween Shapes worksheet.
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Interior Angles of Shapes Teaching Slides
Explore the interior angles of common two-dimensional shapes with this comprehensive set of teaching slides.
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Drawing Angles Poster
Remind your students how to draw angles using a protractor with this classroom anchor chart.
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Classifying Triangles (By Angles) Sorting Activity
Play this sorting game when learning how to classify triangles according to their internal angles.
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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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Advanced Angles Poster Pack
Teach your students about alternate, co-interior, corresponding and vertically opposite angles with this set of classroom posters.
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2D Shapes in the Environment Cut and Sort Worksheet
Students will categorise and sort 2D shapes using this ability-levelled worksheet set.
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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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Colour by 2D Shape (Easter Egg)
An Easter-themed colour by 2D shape activity.
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2D-3D Shape Posters
Use this set of 14 brightly coloured 2D and 3D shape posters to decorate your classroom and build academic vocabulary.
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Find and Colour – Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt where students search for 2D shapes in their surrounding environment.
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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 Shape Character Templates
A cute 2D shape display for your classroom.
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Geometric Reasoning Worksheets - Year 6
2 worksheets linked to the Australian Curriculum.
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Individual 2D Shapes Posters - BW
2D Shapes and their names, diagrams and properties on individual posters.
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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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2D Shape Matching Puzzles
Use these 2D shape puzzles to help familiarise your students with the most common two-dimensional shapes.
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Draw the 2D Shape! Worksheet
Use this single-page symmetry worksheet to spark students’ creativity, as they think of and draw shapes which fit the provided lines of symmetry.
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Matching Lines of Symmetry Worksheets
Introduce the concept of ‘multiple lines of symmetry’ to your Grade Fours with this match-up worksheet set.
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Shape Investigation 2D Figures Task Cards
Combine fun and learning with these 2D shapes and symmetry task cards for your Grade Four students!
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Symmetry Pattern Design Worksheet
Have your students create real-world symmetrical representations using this 3-page symmetry worksheet set and a tub of pattern blocks.
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Interior Angles of Shapes Interactive Game
Explore the interior angles of regular polygons with this detective-themed interactive maths activity.
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Interior Angles of Shapes – Differentiated Mazes
Explore the interior angles of regular shapes with this differentiated, maze-inspired worksheet.
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Understanding Angles – Word Wall Vocabulary Cards
Promote maths vocabulary development with this set of 15 vocabulary cards focusing on angles.
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Types of Triangles Interactive Game
Explore the properties of acute, right and obtuse triangles with this interactive space adventure!
- 2D Shapes Worksheets
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