Math Core

You can build new shapes out of shapes you already know, like snapping blocks together. Two small shapes can make one bigger shape.

Flat shapes

Put two triangles side by side, long edges touching. They make a square!

Two triangles put together make a square.

Here are more ways to build:

Two squares put together make a rectangle.

Solid shapes are not flat. You can hold them.

You can stack solid shapes too. Put a cone on top of a cylinder and you get a rocket! 🚀 Put 2 cubes side by side and you get a rectangular prism.

Build with shapes

Shapes can be put together to make new, bigger shapes. You can then use the new shape to build something even bigger.

Worked example: Two triangles

Ava puts 2 triangles together along their long sides. What shape can she make?

She can make a square (or a rectangle, if the triangles are longer).

Worked example: Make a hexagon

It takes 6 triangles to make a hexagon. Nate has made half of it with 3 triangles. How many more triangles does he need?

$6 - 3 = 3$ . He needs 3 more triangles.

Worked example: A tower

Zoe stacks 2 cubes and puts a cone on top. How many solid shapes did she use?

2 cubes and 1 cone: $2 + 1 = 3$ shapes.

Tip

Try it with paper! Cut a square in half corner to corner. You get 2 triangles. Put them back together to make the square again.

Practice 1

What shape do 2 half-circles make?

Practice 2

Two squares are put side by side. What new shape do they make?

Practice 3

How many triangles do you need to make one square like the one in the lesson?

Type a number.

Practice 4

Which solid shape looks like a soup can?

Practice 5

Eli uses 2 triangles to make one square. He wants to make 2 squares. How many triangles does he need?

Type a number.

Practice 6

Rosa builds a rocket with 1 cone, 1 cylinder and 3 cubes. How many solid shapes did she use?

Type a number.

Practice 7

A hexagon is made from 6 triangles. Jay has 2 triangles. How many more does he need to make a hexagon?

Type a number.