Maths Library

Naming 2D Shapes: Year 3 maths

This topic covers identifying and classifying common two-dimensional shapes by their properties. The worksheet practises recognising circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, and regular polygons.

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What this covers

Naming 2D Shapes is taught in Year 3 (age 8 to 9) as a main teaching focus. It sits in the Geometry strand.

Worked example

How many sides does a regular hexagon have

  1. Recall that a hexagon is a polygon named from the Greek prefix hex- meaning six
  2. Count or state the number of straight sides

Answer: 6

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Recognising basic shapes: circle, square, triangle, rectangle
  2. Identifying pentagons, hexagons, and octagons
  3. Counting sides and vertices on regular 2D polygons
  4. Distinguishing quadrilaterals: rhombus, parallelogram, trapezium
  5. Classifying polygons based on parallel sides and equal angles

Common mistakes

  • Thinking a shape changes name when rotated (e.g. calling a rotated square a diamond)
  • Confusing vertices (corners) with edges or sides

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to Australian Curriculum v9. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • AC9M3SP01 Identify and describe the geometric properties of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Naming 2D Shapes

Year 3 maths

Qs
6
Marks
12
NameDateScore / 12
1.
Name a shape with 4 sides.
[2]
2.
How many sides does this shape have?
[2]
3.
Name a shape with 3 sides.
[2]
4.
Name a shape with 6 sides.
[2]
5.
How many sides does this shape have?
[2]
6.
How many sides does this shape have?
[2]

Answer key

  1. square or rectangleA shape with 4 sides is called a quadrilateral, such as a square or rectangle
  2. 4Count the straight edges: 4
  3. triangleA shape with 3 sides is called a triangle
  4. hexagonA shape with 6 sides is called a hexagon
  5. 8Count the straight edges: 8
  6. 3Count the straight edges: 3