Playing with Constructions
Class 6 · Mathematics
4 ideas in Class 6 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Circle, Radius and Compass
Part of: Circles and Compass
A circle is a curve where every point is the same distance from a fixed centre point. A compass is a tool with a sharp point and a pencil tip. When you fix the point on the centre and open the pencil tip to any distance, then rotate, you draw a circle. The distance from the centre to any point on the circle is called the radius.
Why it matters. Understanding circles and how to draw them with a compass helps children create accurate geometric figures and appreciate patterns in wheels, plates, coins and the sun. It builds the foundation for later geometry.
Try it in two minutes
- Mark a dot on paper and call it the centre.
- Set a compass to 5 cm distance by opening it against a ruler.
- Place the sharp point on the dot and rotate the pencil end to draw a circle.
- Mark any point on the circle and measure the distance back to the centre. It will be 5 cm!
Try at home. Draw a circle with your compass, then mark five different points on it. Measure each one's distance from the centre using a ruler. They should all be the same distance.
Squares and Rectangles
Part of: Properties of Squares and Rectangles
A rectangle is a four-sided figure with two pairs of equal opposite sides and all angles equal to 90°. A square is a special rectangle where all four sides are equal in length. Both have four right-angle corners like the corners of a notebook page.
Why it matters. Recognising the properties of rectangles and squares helps children identify these shapes in buildings, fields, tiles, screens and doors. It also shows how shapes can be classified by their properties rather than just their appearance.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw or show a rectangle on paper. Measure opposite sides and show they are equal.
- Use an angle tester (two strips in an L-shape) to check that each corner is a right angle.
- Draw a square and show that all four sides are equal and all angles are right angles.
- Compare: a square is a special kind of rectangle.
Try at home. Find three rectangles at home (a door, a tile, a window). Measure the opposite sides to verify they are equal. Check that the corners look like right angles.
Constructing Squares and Rectangles with Given Measurements
Part of: Constructing Figures
To construct a square or rectangle, you use a ruler to draw straight sides of the correct length and a compass to draw perpendicular lines at right angles. A right angle is drawn by creating a line that meets another line at exactly 90°. When constructing with a compass, you can mark equal distances without constantly using the ruler.
Why it matters. Learning to construct accurate figures builds precision and spatial reasoning. It shows how geometric properties allow us to build shapes step by step, which is useful for drawing, design, architecture and engineering.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw the base of your rectangle using a ruler and the given length.
- At each end of the base, draw perpendicular lines (90° to the base) using a method like folding or a compass.
- Mark the required lengths on these perpendicular lines.
- Join the top ends to complete the rectangle.
Try at home. Draw a rectangle with sides 12 cm and 7 cm using only a ruler and compass. Measure to verify the opposite sides are equal and the angles are right angles.
Diagonals of Rectangles and Points Equidistant from Two Points
Part of: Diagonals and Special Points
A diagonal is a line segment joining two opposite corners of a shape. In a rectangle, the two diagonals are equal in length and bisect each other (meet at the midpoint). Points that are equidistant from two given points lie on a perpendicular bisector of the line joining those points. In practice, you can find such points by drawing circles from both points with the same radius.
Why it matters. Understanding diagonals helps analyse rectangles and squares in design and architecture. Understanding equidistant points is useful for locating fair meeting places between two locations or designing symmetrical shapes.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a rectangle and label its corners A, B, C, D.
- Draw both diagonals from A to C and from B to D.
- Measure both diagonals. They should be equal in a rectangle.
- Mark where the diagonals intersect. This is the centre of the rectangle.
Try at home. Draw a rectangle on paper and measure both diagonals with a ruler. They should be the same length. Now mark any point that is exactly equidistant from two opposite corners using a compass set to the same radius from each corner.
What your child will practise
- Circle, Radius and Compass: Jungle Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Circle, Radius and Compass: Mission Control Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Constructing Squares and Rectangles with Given Measurements: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Diagonals of Rectangles and Points Equidistant from Two Points: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Squares and Rectangles: Number Sort (Sort It Out)
- Quiz: Circle, Radius and Compass (8 questions)
- Quiz: Constructing Squares and Rectangles with Given Measurements (8 questions)
- Quiz: Diagonals of Rectangles and Points Equidistant from Two Points (8 questions)
- Quiz: Squares and Rectangles (8 questions)