2D shapes
Circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and other polygons. Children learn to count sides and corners.
KS1 children name common 2D shapes and describe them by number of sides and corners. Year 2 distinguishes between regular and irregular polygons (e.g. an equilateral triangle vs a scalene one).
Worked examples
Triangle: 3 sides, 3 corners.
Square: 4 sides (all equal), 4 corners (all 90°).
Hexagon: 6 sides, 6 corners. Pentagon: 5. Octagon: 8.
Frequently asked questions
Are squares rectangles?
Yes — a square is a special rectangle (4 right angles, but with all sides equal). KS1 just calls it a square; the inclusion idea waits till KS2.
What's a vertex?
A corner where two sides meet. Plural: vertices. KS2 prefers ‘vertex’; KS1 says ‘corner’.
Do circles have corners?
No — a circle has no straight sides and no corners. Some children count the ‘point’ of an oval as a corner, which is a useful misconception to address.