📐 Name the Two-Dimensional Shape

When we talk about two-dimensional shapes, we mean flat shapes that have length and width but no height. In Year 2 Maths, it is important to learn how to name and identify these common shapes. You will come across shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles all around you!

🔍 What is a Two-Dimensional Shape?

A two-dimensional shape is flat. You can draw it on a piece of paper. It does not pop out like a cube or ball. These shapes have sides and corners (sometimes called vertices).

✏️ How to Name and Identify Shapes

  1. Circle
    – It is round and has no corners or straight sides.
    – Example: A clock or a round plate.
  2. Square
    – It has 4 equal straight sides.
    – It has 4 corners.
    – You can think of a square like a small box or a window.
  3. Rectangle
    – It has 4 straight sides too. But the opposite sides are the same length, not all four.
    – It has 4 corners.
    – Example: A door or a book cover.
  4. Triangle
    – It has 3 straight sides.
    – It has 3 corners.
    – Triangles can look different – some have all sides the same length, some don’t. You will learn all about these different triangles later on!

💡 Tips to Remember

  • Count the sides to help you name the shape.
  • Count the corners to check you have the right shape.
  • Look at the length of the sides to know if sides are equal or different.
  • You can use objects around you to spot these shapes.

Learning to name and identify two-dimensional shapes is a fun way to see maths in the world around you! Keep practising by looking for shapes every day.✨

📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Naming Two-Dimensional Shapes for Year 2 Maths

Here are 20 examination-style questions designed for Year 2 students in Key Stage 1. These questions focus on naming and identifying two-dimensional shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles, following the UK National Curriculum.

Question 1

Look at the shape. It has 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. What is the name of this shape?
Answer: Square

Question 2

This shape has 3 straight sides and 3 corners. What is it called?
Answer: Triangle

Question 3

The shape shown has no corners and is perfectly round. What shape is it?
Answer: Circle

Question 4

Name the shape that has 4 sides but only 2 pairs of equal sides and 4 right angles.
Answer: Rectangle

Question 5

Which shape has 5 straight sides and 5 corners?
Answer: Pentagon

Question 6

What two-dimensional shape has 6 sides?
Answer: Hexagon

Question 7

This shape has 4 sides of equal length but does not have any right angles. What is it?
Answer: Rhombus

Question 8

Look at this shape with 8 sides. What is it called?
Answer: Octagon

Question 9

Which shape has exactly 4 sides and 4 right angles but the sides are not all the same length?
Answer: Rectangle

Question 10

It is a 2D shape with 3 sharp corners and 3 straight edges. Name it.
Answer: Triangle

Question 11

This shape is round and looks like a ball from the side but only two-dimensional, what is it?
Answer: Circle

Question 12

Name the two-dimensional shape that has 4 corners and 4 equal sides.
Answer: Square

Question 13

A shape has 7 straight sides and 7 corners. What is it called?
Answer: Heptagon

Question 14

If a shape has no corners and looks like a ring, what shape is it?
Answer: Circle (or Annulus for a ring, but Circle is appropriate here)

Question 15

Which shape has 4 sides, with only two sides equal, and has right angles?
Answer: Rectangle

Question 16

This shape has 6 equal sides and 6 equal angles. What is the shape?
Answer: Regular Hexagon

Question 17

What shape has exactly 4 sides and 2 pairs of parallel sides?
Answer: Parallelogram

Question 18

A shape with four sides of different lengths, can one of these be a rectangle?
Answer: Yes, a rectangle has four sides but opposite sides are equal.

Question 19

The shape has 10 sides and is named after the number 10. What is it?
Answer: Decagon

Question 20

What shape has three sides and can have one right angle, one obtuse angle, and one acute angle?
Answer: Triangle

These questions help Year 2 students practise naming common two-dimensional shapes while reinforcing their understanding of shape properties according to the UK National Curriculum. Encourage students to look carefully at the shapes, count sides and corners, and think about angles to identify each shape correctly. 🌟