Shapes and angles
Grade 2 · Math
Explore numbers, spot patterns and explain how you worked it out.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
Sides and vertices of 2-D shapes
Order triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons and octagons by their sides and vertices.
Play Sides and vertices of 2-D shapesFaces, edges and vertices of 3-D shapes
How many faces, edges and vertices does a cube have? Match 3-D shapes to their properties in this
Play Faces, edges and vertices of 3-D shapes
Learning about shapes and angles
These Grade 2 Math games practice Sides and vertices of 2-D shapes, Faces, edges and vertices of 3-D shapes. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Use counters, a drawing or a number line before moving to a mental method. Ask your child to explain a choice, then change one number and try the method again.
Ask: “How could you show the same answer another way?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Sides and vertices of 2-D shapes
In this game children put sets of shapes in order by their number of sides or vertices, fewest first. To order them, they need to know that a triangle has 3 sides, a square and a rectangle 4, a pentagon 5, a hexagon 6 and an octagon 8.
Try an example: Put hexagon, triangle, square in order by sides, fewest first.
3, 4, 6.
Show the answer
triangle, square, hexagon
What to look out for
Thinking an octagon has 6 sides. Link oct to octopus: an octopus has 8 arms and an octagon has 8 sides.
Faces, edges and vertices of 3-D shapes
In this game children match each 3-D shape to its properties, such as 6 square faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices for a cube. Several shapes have similar numbers, so children must know each shape well rather than guess.
Try an example: How many faces, edges and vertices does a square-based pyramid have?
1 square base and 4 triangles; 4 edges round the base and 4 up to the top; 4 base corners and 1 at the top.
Show the answer
5 faces, 8 edges and 5 vertices
What to look out for
Counting only the faces you can see in a picture. Hold a real shape and turn it over, or mark each face with a sticker.
Practice away from the screen
- Find shapes on road signs, tiles and windows and count their sides.
- Look at a cereal box and count its faces, edges and vertices together.
Curriculum connections
Sides and vertices of 2-D shapes
Supports part of Common Core 2.G.A.1: recognizing shapes by their number of sides and angles. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.
Common Core connection: 2.G.A.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Faces, edges and vertices of 3-D shapes
Supports part of Common Core 2.G.A.1, which mentions faces of solid shapes. Counting edges and vertices goes a little beyond it.
Common Core connection: 2.G.A.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with shapes and angles?
Start with Sides and vertices of 2-D shapes. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.