Grade 3 Geometry

3.G.1

About the Math
Preferred Resources
Additional Resources
Independent Work
Assessment

Full Standard

Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories.

Learning Targets

Describe shapes by their attributes.
Classify shapes by categories.
Define quadrilaterals.
Identify and draw quadrilaterals.

About the Math

A polygon is a closed figure. A polygon is named by the number of its sides. Regular polygons are made up of line segments which are the same lengths. An irregular polygon can have sides of different lengths. Polygons with four sides are quadrilaterals. A rectangle is a parallelogram with four right angles. A rhombus is a parallelogram with four congruent sides. (A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel lines.) A square is a parallelogram with four right angles and four congruent sides. A trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides. Students should not be expected to memorize a formal definition of the quadrilaterals but be able to identify them and name them. Using examples and non-examples is a good way to understand these polygons. Essential vocabulary for this standard includes: attribute, property, equal, sides, opposite sides, angles, right angles, polygon, quadrilateral, parallelograms, parallel, rectangles, kite, rhombus, square, and trapezoid. Visit the online dictionary for vocabulary support.

Progression of Standard within Grade 3

This progression informs how to develop the standard within the grade level. This progression is provided by HCPSS Elementary Mathematics.

Quarter 1	Quarter 2	Quarter 3	Quarter 4
	Describe shapes by their attributes. Classify shapes by categories. Define quadrilaterals. Identify and draw quadrilaterals.

Progression of this Standard Across Grades

This progression is informed by the Achieve the Core Coherence Map. Information is not the complete standard.

Grade 2	Grade 4
Recognize and draw polygons and other figures (2.G.A.1)	Draw and identify points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (4.G.1)

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Preferred Tasks

These links provide ideas for lessons connected to this standard. They may support small group instruction or whole group collaborative investigations. They are intended to serve as a starting point for planning.

Attributes and Categories of Shapes:

Lesson Seeds (Prompts for Rigor)

Rigorous mathematics instruction balances the teaching and learning of conceptual understanding, procedural understanding, and the application of mathematics standards. Below are prompts for applying rigor in your classroom. They may support small group instruction or whole group collaborative investigations. They are intended to serve as a starting point for planning. See the Increasing Rigor page for more information.

A certain shape makes you think of a rectangle, but it is not a rectangle. What could it be and why?
You are working on a 5x5 dot grid. What polygons can you create?
Show students a square and a rectangle that is not a square. Ask students to explain how the shapes are similar and how they are different. Are they both rectangles? Are they both squares? Are they both quadrilaterals?
The shape I am thinking of has 4 equal sides and does not have any right angles. What shape(s) could I be? Am I a quadrilateral?
Draw a quadrilateral that has exactly two right angles and no sides are the same length. Compare your shape with your neighbor’s shape. Does your shape have a name? (trapezoid)

+++ Indicates recently created HCPSS instructional tasks. These tasks are provided in Google slides. When selected, a copy of the file is added to your drive for classroom use.

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Print Resources

These publications have been provided for each school. They are typically stored in team closets or the media center. Check with your team leader if you cannot find them.

Book Thumbnail	Book Title	Grade	Pages
	Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics	K-3	194 (Shape Sorts, Activity 7.1) 195 (What's My Shape?, Activity 7.2) 197 (Geoboard Copy, Activity 7.3) 197 (Parts That Are Alike, Activity 7.4) 207 (Mystery Definition, Activity 7.6) 207 (Properties Lists for Quadrilaterals, Activity 7.7) 221-222 (Expanded Lesson: Shape Sorts)
	Hands-On Standards	3-4	66 (Plane Shapes)
	Groundworks - Reasoning with Geometry	3	16 - 23 (Shape Search)
	Problem-Driven Math	3	70 - 72 (Seedling Square)
	SuperSource: Color Tiles	3-4	54-58 46 74-77 82
$20_thinking_questions_for_fraction_pieces.jpg$	20 Thinking Questions for Pattern Blocks	3-6	54
	Brain-Compatible Activities for Mathematics	2-3	122-123
	Math In Practice Teaching Third-Grade Math	3	Module 16

More Ideas

More Ideas Inspired by Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics

Additional Tasks and Lesson Seeds

These links provide ideas for lessons connected to this standard. They may support small group instruction or whole group collaborative investigations. They are intended to serve as a starting point for planning.

Shape Sorter - 2D Shapes (Georgia Department of Education, pgs. 28-34)
Properties of Quadrilaterals (Georgia Department of Education, pgs. 41-46)
What Makes a Shape?(Georgia Department of Education, pgs. 35-40)
The Polygon Song PPT, Actual Song (Art Wong)

Connecting to Children's Literature

Children’s Literature provides an opportunity to put mathematics in context. These titles connect well with this standard.

The Greedy Triangle
by Marilyn Burns

Shape Up
by David Adler

If You Were A Quadrilateral
by Molly Blaisdell

Grandfather Tang's Story:
A Tale Told with Tangrams
by Ann Tomper

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Student-Facing Centers

These links provide online and print resources to engage students during independent or center time. These resources could also be used as lesson seeds.

Geoboard Polygons (HCPSS-adapted resource)
Making Quadrilaterals(HCPSS-adapted resource)
3 Card Shape Match(HCPSS-adapted resource)
2D Shape Compare(HCPSS-adapted resource)
Shape Sorting(HCPSS-adapted resource)
Guess My Polygon(HCPSS-adapted resource)
Guess My Shape (HCPSS-adapted resource)
Shape Sorter (student-facing resource)
Illuminations Concentration (student-facing resource)
Quadrilateral Quest (student-facing resource)
Quadrilateral Warfare (student-facing resource)
Quadrilateral Shape Shoot (student-facing resource)
Polygon or Not? (student-facing resource)
Polygon Matching Game (student-facing resource)
Polygons (Reference page with Geometry vocab and examples)
Virtual Geoboards (student-facing resource)

Independent Practice

These resource sheets can be used for independent practice or homework. They are intended to reinforce procedures and concepts. They should not be used as a source of direct instruction or whole-group practice.

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Learning Targets

Describe shapes by their attributes.
Classify shapes by categories.
Define quadrilaterals.
Identify and draw quadrilaterals.

Learning targets identify what students should be able to do. The resources below can be used to measure student understanding of the standard. The recording sheet can be used to collect data. The rubric can be applied to any task. Select the preview icon to preview the task before downloading.

Recording Sheet (docx)

Rubric (docx)

Assessment Tasks

These tasks align with the learning targets for the standard. They can be combined with other tasks for extended assessment opportunities. Teachers/students are not expected to complete all these tasks.

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