Minds On

What’s the shape?

Explore the following shapes.

  • What do you notice about them?
  • What are some of the similarities or differences?
  • What is the name of this shape? Are all the shapes the same?

Record your ideas in a notebook or a method of your choice.

5 shapes. Each has 4 sides, 4 vertices and 4 right angles. The opposite sides are equal in length.

Acknowledgements(Opens in a new window)

Action

Task 1: Exploring rectangles

You may have noticed in the Minds On section that all of the shapes presented were rectangles.

A rectangle has different attributes or properties that help us to identify and define it. Even if we change its size or its position, it remains a rectangle if the properties stay the same.

Let’s examine the following images of a rectangle. Each image highlights a different property. For each shape, record the properties in a notebook or a method of your choice.

Image 1

A rectangle. It has 4 sides.

What is a property we can identify in this image?

Press the 'Property' button to reveal an answer.

The rectangle has 4 sides.

Image 2

A rectangle. The 2 short sides have the same length and the 2 long sides have the same length.

What is a property we can identify in this image?

Press the 'Property' button to reveal an answer.

The rectangle has two sets of sides that are the same length.

This example of a rectangle has two sides that are 8 pegs wide and 12 pegs long.

Opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel.

Image 3

A rectangle. It has 4 sides and 4 corners.

What is a property we can identify in this image?

Press the 'Property' button to reveal an answer.

The rectangle has four corners.

Image 4

The rectangle is split vertically and horizontally down the middle, splitting the shape into 4 smaller rectangles.

What is a property we can identify in this image?

Press the 'Property' button to reveal an answer.

There are two lines of symmetry in the rectangle. The lines of symmetry split the rectangle into equal pieces.

Image 5

A rectangle. There are 4 corners in the rectangle, and each corner is a right (90 degree) angle.

What is a property we can identify in this image?

Press the 'Property' button to reveal an answer.

There are 4 corners in the rectangle, and each corner is a right (90 degree) angle.

The last image highlights 'right angles' in a rectangle. To learn more about these angles, press the 'Right Angles' button.

Right angles

If two lines meet at a right angle, the lines are perpendicular. This means that they come together or intersect at an angle of 90 degrees.

A right angle. It is a vertical line and horizontal line coming together to form a corner. It’s labelled 90 degrees.

Review: Properties of a rectangle

These are the properties of a rectangle:
  • 4 sides
  • 4 corners or vertices
  • 2 sets of parallel lines. Parallel lines do not meet. The distance between parallel lines remains the same. Parallel lines in a rectangle are opposite sides and are the same length
  • Each corner of a rectangle is at a 90-degree angle

Task 2: Rectangles in the real world

Rectangles are often found in the world around us. Examine the following pictures and determine how many rectangles are in each:

Think about the following questions. You can record your thinking using a method of your choice.

  • What did you notice about the images?
  • How is the shape of a rectangle used in different ways?
  • Would you include other shapes if you could design these spaces? Why or why not?

Task 3: Rectangles in your learning space

Consider the following objects.

You might have noticed that each of the objects has rectangular properties.

Find and list three objects in your surroundings that have rectangular properties.

Would these objects work properly if they were another shape?

Record your ideas in a notebook or a method of your choice.

Consolidation

Task 1: Rectangles in art

Let’s explore the following piece of geometric artwork.

Are all of the shapes rectangles? How can you use your understanding of the rectangle’s properties to determine how many rectangles are in the image?

Record your thinking using a method of your choice.

Art combining different shapes and straight lines. There are rectangles, circles, and triangles.

Task 2: Create your own!

Time to create your own geometric artwork. You may use a combination of different shapes, but you must include rectangles in your piece. Refer to the properties of a rectangle if you need.

If you’d like, you can press the 'Properties of Rectangles' button for a helpful reminder.

These are the properties of a rectangle:

  • 4 sides
  • 4 corners or vertices
  • 2 sets of parallel lines. Parallel lines do not meet. The distance between parallel lines remains the same. Parallel lines in a rectangle are opposite sides and are the same length
  • Each corner of a rectangle is at a 90-degree angle

You may use the following printable Grid document to create your artwork. You can also use another method of your choice.

Grid

Press the Activity button to access Grid.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press 'Discover More' to extend your skills.

Rectangular house designed with various rectangular features.

Architects often choose rectangles when designing buildings and other structures.

Why is the rectangle such a popular shape to use for structures?

Research buildings that have used rectangular shapes in their structures.

Share 2 buildings you found where rectangles are the main shape.