Shapes and Patterns
Class 5 · Mathematics
5 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Tessellation of Regular Shapes
Part of: Tiling and tessellation
A shape tessellates if copies of it cover a flat area with no gaps and no overlaps. Equilateral triangles, squares and regular hexagons do this. Regular pentagons and regular octagons leave gaps.
Why it matters. Tiling links maths to floors, walls and honeycombs, and it trains children to test an idea by trying it out.
Try it in two minutes
- Cut out several paper squares and fit them around one point. Ask: how many fit?
- Try the same with paper triangles, then ask what is different.
- Try a pentagon and ask what is left over.
Try at home. Look at a tiled floor and ask your child which shapes the tiles are.
Triangles by Their Sides
Part of: Triangles and quadrilaterals
Triangles are named by their sides. All three equal is equilateral, exactly two equal is isosceles and none equal is scalene. Equal sides come with equal angles.
Why it matters. Naming shapes by a clear rule helps children describe shapes exactly instead of saying 'a pointy shape'.
Try it in two minutes
- Cut three paper strips and join them as a triangle. Ask: are any sides equal?
- Change the strips and ask which name fits now.
- Fold a paper triangle and see which corners match.
Try at home. Draw one triangle of each kind and label it.
Kites and Parallelograms
Part of: Triangles and quadrilaterals
A kite has two pairs of equal sides that sit next to each other. A parallelogram has equal opposite sides. A rectangle is a parallelogram whose angles are all right angles.
Why it matters. Sorting shapes by their features builds careful looking and prepares children for later geometry.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a kite on grid paper and ask which sides are equal.
- Draw a rectangle and ask which sides are equal.
- Ask: how are these two shapes alike and different?
Try at home. Find a kite shape and a rectangular shape at home and describe each.
Repeating Weaving Patterns
Part of: Patterns
A weaving pattern is a short group of steps, such as 2 over and 1 under, that repeats again and again. Once you know the group, you can say what any step will be.
Why it matters. Spotting repeats helps children predict what comes next, which is useful in number patterns too.
Try it in two minutes
- Weave a paper strip over and under a sheet with slits.
- Say the pattern aloud, such as 2 over, 1 under.
- Ask: what will the 7th step be?
Try at home. Make up your own repeating pattern with beads or coins.
Painted Cube Puzzle
Part of: Solid shapes
A big cube made of 27 small cubes has 3 small cubes along each edge. The corner ones show 3 painted faces, the edge ones show 2, the face-centre ones show 1 and the middle one shows none.
Why it matters. The puzzle trains children to count carefully without missing or repeating anything.
Try it in two minutes
- Stack building blocks into a 3 by 3 by 3 cube.
- Ask: which blocks touch three outside faces?
- Count each kind and add them to reach 27.
Try at home. Ask your child to explain why only one block has no paint.
What your child will practise
- Kites and Parallelograms: Ocean Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Kites and Parallelograms: Ocean Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Repeating Weaving Patterns: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Tessellation of Regular Shapes: Treasure Sort (Sort It Out)
- Triangles by Their Sides: Space Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Quiz: Kites and Parallelograms (8 questions)
- Quiz: Painted Cube Puzzle (8 questions)
- Quiz: Repeating Weaving Patterns (8 questions)
- Quiz: Tessellation of Regular Shapes (8 questions)