Class 1 — Mathematics
Shapes and Space
Class 1
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and name common flat shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle).
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and name common solid shapes (cube, cuboid, cylinder, sphere).
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to distinguish between flat and solid shapes.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to use position words (inside/outside, above/below, near/far, top/bottom, on/under) correctly.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to relate shapes to objects found in their surroundings.
Key concepts
Shapes that are thin and can be drawn on a flat surface like paper are called flat shapes. They have only length and breadth. We cannot hold them easily like real objects. Some common flat shapes are:\n\n1. **Circle**: A round shape with no corners and no straight sides.\n2. **Square**: A shape with four straight sides, where all four sides are equal in length. It has four corners.\n3. **Rectangle**: A shape with four straight sides. Its opposite sides are equal in length. It has four corners.\n4. **Triangle**: A shape with three straight sides. It has three corners.
Shapes that are thick and take up space are called solid shapes. We can hold them. They have length, breadth, and height. Some solid shapes can roll, and some can slide. Some common solid shapes are:\n\n1. **Cube**: A solid shape like a dice. All its faces are squares. It can slide.\n2. **Cuboid**: A solid shape like a brick or a matchbox. Its faces are rectangles. It can slide.\n3. **Cylinder**: A solid shape like a pipe or a can. It has two flat circular faces and one curved face. It can roll and slide.\n4. **Sphere**: A solid shape like a ball. It is perfectly round and has no flat faces or corners. It can roll.
Position words tell us where things are located in relation to other things.\n\n1. **Inside / Outside**: 'Inside' means within something. 'Outside' means not within something.\n * Example: The bird is **inside** the cage. The cat is **outside** the house.\n2. **Above / Below**: 'Above' means higher than something. 'Below' means lower than something.\n * Example: The fan is **above** the table. The rug is **below** the chair.\n3. **Near / Far**: 'Near' means close to something. 'Far' means a long distance from something.\n * Example: The school is **near** my home. The mountains are **far** away.\n4. **Top / Bottom**: 'Top' means the highest part. 'Bottom' means the lowest part.\n * Example: The book is on the **top** shelf. The shoes are at the **bottom** of the stairs.\n5. **On / Under**: 'On' means resting upon something. 'Under' means directly below something.\n * Example: The apple is **on** the plate. The ball is **under** the bed.
Key facts to remember
- 1Flat shapes are thin and can be drawn on paper (e.g., circle, square, rectangle, triangle).
- 2Solid shapes are thick and take up space; we can hold them (e.g., cube, cuboid, cylinder, sphere).
- 3A circle is a round flat shape with no corners.
- 4A square has four equal straight sides and four corners.
- 5A rectangle has four straight sides, with opposite sides being equal.
- 6A triangle has three straight sides and three corners.
- 7A sphere is like a ball and can roll.
- 8A cube is like a dice and can slide.
- 9Position words help us understand where objects are located.
Worked examples
Example 1
Look at the picture of a house. Identify and name the flat shapes you see in its parts.
Answer
The flat shapes observed are: Square (window), Rectangle (door), Triangle (roof), Circle (clock).
Always look carefully at the number of sides and corners to identify flat shapes.
Example 2
Match the following real-life objects to their solid shapes: a ball, a dice, a cold drink can, a brick.
Answer
Ball - Sphere, Dice - Cube, Cold drink can - Cylinder, Brick - Cuboid.
Think about how the object feels and if it can roll or slide.
Example 3
Look at the picture: A bird is sitting on a branch. A nest is in the tree, below the bird. A cat is sleeping under the tree. Describe their positions using appropriate words.
Answer
The bird is on the branch. The nest is below the bird. The bird is above the nest. The cat is under the tree. The bird is inside the tree.
Practice describing the positions of objects around you every day.
Common mistakes
- ✗Confusing flat shapes with solid shapes (e.g., calling a circle a sphere or vice-versa).
- ✗Misidentifying a square as a rectangle or a rectangle as a square, especially when sides are not clearly drawn.
- ✗Incorrectly using position words like 'on' instead of 'above' or 'under' instead of 'below' when objects are not touching.
- ✗Not understanding that a cylinder can both roll and slide.
Exam tips
- ★Always look very carefully at the shape or picture given in the question.
- ★Think about real-life objects that look like the shapes to help you identify them.
- ★Practice using position words in your daily conversations to describe things around you.
- ★Draw and trace different shapes to understand their features better.
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