Chapter 5: Fun with Shapes

Look around. The wheel of a cycle is a circle. A samosa is a triangle. A box of mithai is a cube. Shapes are everywhere , once you start spotting them, you cannot stop!

What we'll learn

• Identify circles, triangles, squares, rectangles.
• Tell apart flat shapes from solid shapes.
• Count sides and corners.
• Make patterns using shapes.
• Notice symmetry around us.

The big idea

Flat shapes are like drawings on paper. A circle has no corners. A triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners. A square has 4 equal sides and 4 corners. A rectangle has 4 sides too, but two are long and two are short.

Solid shapes are things you can hold. A laddoo is shaped like a sphere. A dice is a cube. A pencil box can be a cuboid. A birthday cap is a cone. A drum is like a cylinder.

Many things in our lives are made of shapes joined together. A house is a rectangle with a triangle on top. A truck is a big rectangle resting on two circles. A rangoli is many small shapes arranged in a pattern.

Symmetry is a special idea. If you fold a butterfly in half, both wings match. We say the butterfly is symmetric. Many designs in Indian art , kolam, rangoli, mehndi , use symmetry.

Let's explore

Shape hunt at home. Find 3 circles, 3 triangles and 3 rectangles in your house. Draw each in your notebook with a label.

Paper folding. Fold a square sheet in half. Are both halves the same? Now fold it diagonally. What shape do you see?

Tangram play. Cut a square into 4 triangles and 2 small squares. Arrange the pieces to make a fish, a boat or a house.

Rangoli pattern. On a dotted grid, draw a rangoli using only triangles and circles. Make it symmetric on the left and right.

Worked examples

Example 1. How many sides and corners does a triangle have?

• Sides: 3.
• Corners: 3.
• A triangle is the simplest flat shape with straight sides.

Example 2. Name the shape of these things: chapati, almirah, dice.

• Chapati: circle (flat).
• Almirah: cuboid (solid).
• Dice: cube (solid, with 6 equal faces).

Example 3. A rectangle has 4 sides. Two are 5 cm long. Two are 3 cm long. What is the total length of all sides?

• 5 + 5 + 3 + 3 = 16.
• Total length is 16 cm.

Quick check

1. How many corners does a square have?
2. What shape is the moon on a full-moon night?
3. Name a solid shape that can roll.
4. Draw a pattern using 2 triangles and 2 circles.
5. Is the letter A symmetric? What about the letter F?

Recap

• Flat shapes are drawings; solid shapes are objects we can hold.
• Each shape has its own number of sides and corners.
• Patterns and symmetry make shapes beautiful, like in rangoli.