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New
New
Year 2

Describe, name and sort polygons, including pentagons, hexagons and octagons

I can recognise and describe polygons including pentagons, hexagons and octagons.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 2

Describe, name and sort polygons, including pentagons, hexagons and octagons

I can recognise and describe polygons including pentagons, hexagons and octagons.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The names of polygons are linked to the number of sides they have.
  2. A pentagon is any polygon with 5 sides.
  3. A hexagon is any polygon with 6 sides.
  4. An octagon is any polygon with 8 sides.

Keywords

  • Pentagon - A polygon with 5 sides and 5 vertices.

  • Hexagon - A polygon with 6 sides and 6 vertices.

  • Octagon - A polygon with 8 sides and 8 vertices.

Common misconception

Children may say that they do not know the name of a polygon when it is an irregular and it does not look familiar to them.

Show children a wide range of pentagons and count the sides and vertices of each shape. Agree that these shapes are all pentagons even though they all look different. Repeat with hexagons and octagons.

Allow children plenty of practice of marking each side or vertex as they count. Ask children if it matters which side or vertex you count first? Why do they think this?
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Triangles have straight sides and vertices.
Correct Answer: 3, three
Q2.
Match the start and ends of the statements correctly.
Correct Answer:tri means,three
tick

three

Correct Answer:quad means ,four
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four

Q3.
Squares and rectangles are types of .
triangles
Correct answer: quadrilaterals
3D shapes
Q4.
Which of these shapes is different to the other shapes?
a
b
Correct answer: c
d
Q5.
Match the correct label to each set of shapes.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:Set A,not triangles
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not triangles

Correct Answer:Set B,triangles
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triangles

Q6.
Here is a set of labelled rectangles. Which shape should not be in this set?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a
b
c
d

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these polygons have six sides?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q2.
Match the polygons to their properties.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,has 5 vertices
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has 5 vertices

Correct Answer:b,has 8 sides
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has 8 sides

Correct Answer:c,is a quadrilateral
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is a quadrilateral

Correct Answer:d,is a triangle
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is a triangle

Q3.
Match the polygon to its name.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,octagon
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octagon

Correct Answer:b,pentagon
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pentagon

Correct Answer:c,hexagon
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hexagon

Q4.
Match the polygon to its properties.
Correct Answer:An octagon is,a polygon with 8 sides and 8 vertices.
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a polygon with 8 sides and 8 vertices.

Correct Answer:A hexagon is,a polygon with 6 sides and 6 vertices.
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a polygon with 6 sides and 6 vertices.

Correct Answer:A pentagon is,a polygon with 5 sides and 5 vertices.
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a polygon with 5 sides and 5 vertices.

Q5.
Which set of polygons has an incorrect shape?
An image in a quiz
hexagon
Correct answer: octagon
Q6.
Order the shapes by the number of vertices, starting with the fewest.
1 - quadrilateral
2 - pentagon
3 - hexagon
4 - octagon