Classifying Quadrilaterals

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Mathematics

Grade(s)

3, 5

Overview

In this video, examine strategies to identify the properties of quadrilaterals—specifically, parallelograms. Students will compare and contrast squares, rectangles, and rhombuses, which are all parallelograms. In the accompanying classroom activity, students create posters identifying the properties of various quadrilaterals. They explore how these shapes compare and contrast and then analyze the ways that parallelograms distinguish themselves from other quadrilaterals.

Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 3

MA19.3.26

Recognize and describe polygons (up to 8 sides), triangles, and quadrilaterals (rhombuses, rectangles, and squares) based on the number of sides and the presence or absence of square corners.

UP:MA19.3.26

Vocabulary

  • Attribute
  • Category
  • Sub-category
  • Opposite sides
  • Angles
  • Quadrilateral
  • Triangle
  • Pentagon
  • Hexagon
  • Septagon
  • Heptagon
  • Octagon
  • Polygon
  • Square
  • Trapezoid
  • Rhombus
  • Rectangle
  • Two-dimensional

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that shapesin different categories may share attributes and that the shared attributes can define a larger category.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify two-dimensional shapes.
  • Sort shapes according to number of sides.
  • Sort quadrilaterals based on the presence or absence of square corners.
  • Draw examples of squares, rectangles, and rhombuses.
  • Draw quadrilaterals that are not rhombuses, rectangles, and squares.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Attributes of a shape help make decisions about how to categorize the shape.
  • Certain attributes are needed to belong to the subcategories of rhombuses, rectangles, and squares.
  • Sometimes a shape does not have the attributes needed to belong to the subcategories of rhombuses, rectangles, and squares.
Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 5

MA19.5.21

Classify triangles according to side length (isosceles, equilateral, scalene) and angle measure (acute, obtuse, right, equiangular).

UP:MA19.5.21

Vocabulary

  • Classify
  • Polygon
  • Side measure
  • Angle measure
  • Isosceles
  • Equilateral
  • Scalene
  • Acute
  • Obtuse
  • Right
  • Equiangular

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Measurable attributes of triangles include length of side and angle measures.
  • Appropriate tools and units of measure for length of side and angle measures.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Classify triangles according to side measures and angle measures.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • triangles can be described and classified by their properties of side length, angle size, or cross-classify to include both side length and angle size.
Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 5

MA19.5.22

Classify quadrilaterals in a hierarchy based on properties.

UP:MA19.5.22

Vocabulary

  • Quadrilateral
  • Hierarchy
  • Two-dimensional
  • Properties
  • Attributes
  • Polygon
  • Rectangle
  • Rhombus
  • Square
  • Trapezoid
  • Parallelogram

Knowledge

Students know:
  • properties or attributes of two-dimensional shapes.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Classify quadrilaterals based on properties.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Quadrilaterals can be identified by general properties to more specific properties.
  • Properties belonging to a category of two-dimensional figures also belong to all subcategories of that category.

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

CUSTOM
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