Mathematics / Year 2 / Space

Curriculum content descriptions

recognise, compare and classify shapes, referencing the number of sides and using spatial terms such as “opposite”, “parallel”, “curved” and “straight” (AC9M2SP01)

Elaborations
  • sorting a collection of shapes in different ways based on their features such as number of sides, whether all sides are equal, whether pairs of opposite sides are parallel; for example, collections of triangles and other polygons
  • manipulating shapes and recognising that different orientations do not change the shape; for example, cutting out pictures of various shapes, recognising they are they are still classified as the same shape even if they are upside down or on their side
  • investigating the shapes of different sporting fields, describing and labelling their features including side lines, centre circles and goal squares; for example, labelling the lines on a basketball court and using spatial terms to describe them
  • creating regular shapes using digital tools, describing and observing what happens when you manipulate them; for example, dragging or pushing vertices to produce irregular shapes, moving or rotating a shape
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Shapes (Geometry),  Classification

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Introduction to Shapes Year 2 - Calculate

The focus of this activity is to discover the language that students are using to describe the features of shapes. Although students may know the names of many shapes, and may know the difference between a square and a circle, the description of why these shapes are different may not be mathematically accurate. Listen to ...

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Stand up, sit down - Calculate

This game focuses on listening and matching shape properties to the correct shape, and using mathematical vocabulary to describe shapes.

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Pattern Blocks - Calculate

This activity uses pattern blocks to explore patterns and the relationship between numbers. Students use the blocks to create and describe other shapes and since the blocks are relational they can be used for other investigations. For example, turn the blocks into units – if the triangle is one what is the value of the hexagon?

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Guess My Shape or Object - Calculate

The focus of this activity is to encourage and support students to describe two dimensional shapes and three dimensional objects according to their features or properties.

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Little Red Hen's robot friend

This module focuses on the impact of technology, particularly robots, on our everyday lives. Based on the folktale The Little Red Hen, students are encouraged to create their own automated solution to help the Little Red Hen carry her wheat. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials ...

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Teaching with videogames: Mini Melbourne - Exploring Geometry using Minecraft

In this lesson, students will explore the 'Mini Melbourne 2.0' in Minecraft to identify and locate different 3D shapes in the open world. Students will use this game as a way to explore their own world and discover how shapes, both 2D and 3D, exist in their world in many forms.

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2D and 3D shapes

Watch this video to learn about the features of 2D shapes. How is it different from the features of 3D shapes (solids)? Some examples of solids that incorporate 2D shapes are mentioned in this video by Sanchit - for example, a cube has six square faces. What other 3D shapes could you make that has at least one square face?

Interactive

Cassowary sanctuary

Help a park ranger to arrange fencing in a wildlife sanctuary. Divide common geometric shapes into equal-sized sections for keeping cassowaries. Group the enclosures to form a quarantine zone for sick and injured birds. Then express divisions of the enclosures as fractions. Work through facts about the life of cassowaries: ...

Interactive

Shape sorter: polygons

Help sort shapes, in the shape factory. Examine examples of shapes and determine if they belong in the Yes polygon set. Examine examples of shapes that do not belong in the set. Work out what features of the polygon are important and test your ideas by sorting some shapes. Then program the robot and see if it sorts the ...

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Count Us In, Ep 9: Using data about favourite foods

Flynn helps Dodly gather information about monsters' favourite foods for Dodly's new cafe menu. Watch and learn while the two monsters research their friends' favourite foods and then display and organise this information. Will Flynn ever get fed at Cafe de Dodly?

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Count Us In, Ep 14: How big is the magic bus?

How do we measure how big something is? Flynn and Dodley want to see who has the bigger toy bus. Which bus is taller, wider, longer? Flynn models how to measure his bus using sticks so he can make a garage for his 'magic' bus. The Flying girl and others also do some measuring.

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Count Us In, Ep 15: Which Container Holds More Magic Rocks?

Flynn and Dodly are going on a camping adventure. Watch how they measure the capacity of different containers. Which container will hold the most? 'Dodly the Adventurer' needs a container to put all his precious rocks in. Can you find a container big enough?

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MathXplosion, Ep 24: Volumes and surface areas

Take two differently shaped containers, for example, a tall, skinny cylinder and a short wide one. Which one will hold more beads? The result may surprise you! It's all about capacity. Two containers with the same surface area can have very different shapes and sizes, so they can have different volumes and hold different ...

Interactive

Rotations of two-dimensional objects

This is a four-page HTML resource about solving problems concerning quarter turns of two-dimensional objects. It contains four questions, one of which is interactive, and one video. The resource discusses and explains quarter turns to reinforce students' understanding.

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Space Race Game (Introducing Algorithmic Thinking) - Calculate

Space Race is a simple board game that teachers can use to introduce the concept of algorithmic sequencing to students. The teaching points provided with the game assist teachers to introduce the use of an algorithm (a simple set of mathematical instructions) to describe the trajectory of an object across a grid plane from ...

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Measurement (Measure My Island) - Calculate

This activity allows students to learn about measuring by measuring attributes of irregular shapes. The use of informal units is an important step in order to develop understandings of what it looks like when measuring the attributes of length, perimeter and area.

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Pattern & Algebra Year 2 - Calculate

The focus of this activity is to discover if students can use numbers to describe a pattern that it written as a description. From here we are interested in finding out if students can interpret the pattern, discover the rule and apply this rule to find missing or future terms.

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Pass The Count - Calculate

This game allows students to practice their skip counting skills in small groups.

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Cryptic code

This set of learning activities engages students in designing bilingual signs using local aboriginal languages. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, is supported ...

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Our magnificent thing

This module focuses on repurposing rubbish, giving students the opportunity to consider sustainability and the impact of their lifestyle choices on the environment. Based on the fiction picture book, The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, students are encouraged to repurpose recyclable items to create their own most ...