Fifteen shapes, from a square to a 5-pointed star, need sorting into regular and irregular polygons in this Year 5 maths activity. A callout reminds pupils that regular means all sides and all angles equal. A factory report then asks which shape was hardest to place and why, plus one new shape for each category. Example answers are included. It covers the England National Curriculum polygon objective.
Geometry - properties of shapes
“Distinguish between regular and irregular polygons based on reasoning about equal sides and angles”
The sort forces the sides-and-angles test on every shape, including a rectangle.
Geometry - properties of shapes
“Use the properties of rectangles to deduce related facts and find missing lengths and angles”
Placing the rectangle correctly needs its properties, not its familiar look.
A callout stating that regular polygons need all sides and all angles equal.
A table of 15 shapes, including a square, a rectangle and a 5-pointed star.
Pupils write each shape into the regular or irregular column.
Which shape was hardest to place and why, plus inventing a new shape per category.
The full sort plus example written answers.
Main activity
The rectangle placement makes a productive whole-class disagreement to resolve.
Assessment check
Where pupils put the star and rectangle reveals their working definition.
Early finishers
Inventing a new shape for each category keeps quick sorters occupied.
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