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Properties of 2D Shapes

Identify the properties of two-dimensional plane shapes using the sliders.
  Menu   Polygons Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6   More  

This is level 5: Strange Shapes. Drag each slider to the correct value. You will be awarded a trophy if you get the right slider positions for at least 5 questions and you do this activity online.

Count every side which is the same length as at least one other side. A horizontal line goes across the screen and a vertical line goes up and down it.

1

Symmetrical L shape (irregular hexagon)

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

2

Dart (concave kite)

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

3

Symmetrical T shape (irregular octagon)

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

4

Arrow (irregular heptagon)

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

5

S shape made from 2 congruent rectangles

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

6

Star made from 4 congruent triangles and a square

Number of sides the same length as another side0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of horizontal lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of vertical lines0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Number of lines of symmetry0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Order of rotational symmetrynone
none 2 3 4 5 6

☐ ☐ ✓ ✗

Check

Can you correct your mistakes in order to get full marks?

Instructions

Try your best to answer the questions above. Type your answers into the boxes provided leaving no spaces. As you work through the exercise regularly click the "check" button. If you have any wrong answers, do your best to do corrections but if there is anything you don't understand, please ask your teacher for help.

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Description of Levels

Close

❎

Polygons - A more basic exercise on recognising names and type of symmetry.

Level 1 - Counting Sides and Angles

Level 2 - Acute, Right and Obtuse

Level 3 - Quadrilaterals

Level 4 - Other Polygons

Level 5 - Strange Shapes

Level 6 - Circles and Curved Shapes

Polygon Properties - A more advanced exercise.

More on this topic including lesson Starters, visual aids, investigations and self-marking exercises.

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Curriculum Reference

See the National Curriculum page for links to related online activities and resources.

Rotational symmetry: summary and recommendation

What reputable sources say

Which description is best

How to describe very irregular shapes

Use plain wording: asymmetric with no rotational symmetry. This is precise and avoids implying any special order.

My recommendation for secondary teaching

  1. Teach the NCETM definition that requires some angle strictly between 0° and 360°.
  2. When a shape only matches after a full turn, write no rotational symmetry.
  3. If an exam board allows "order 1", you may mention it as a technical aside, yet reserve "order n" for n ≥ 2 in everyday teaching.
  4. For especially uneven shapes, describe them as asymmetric with no rotational symmetry.

In short

Avoid "order 0". Prefer "no rotational symmetry". Acknowledge "order 1" only as a technical note where mark schemes permit it.