Hillsborough County Public Schools Elementary Mathematics Parent Connection Kindergarten – Unit 5: Identify and Describe Two-Dimensional Shapes In this unit your child will work to build an understanding of the following:  Attributes of a Polygon.  Distinguish between Polygons and shapes that are not polygons.  Count the sides and vertices of a polygon.  Identify and describe: triangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, pentagons, hexagons and octagons.  Combine shapes to make a new shape.  Create polygons using a variety of tools.  Identify shapes in the real world. Polygons Counting Sides and Vertices to Name Polygons Non-polygons Your child can number the sides and vertices to help them determine the name of the polygon. Triangle: Polygon with 3 sides, 3 vertices Quadrilateral: Polygon with 4 sides, 4 vertices Pentagon: Polygon with 5 sides, 5 vertices Hexagon: Polygon with 6 sides, 6 vertices Octagon: Polygon with 8 sides, 8 vertices Helpful Links for Unit 5:  Polygons are plane shapes made up of line segments that connect at the vertices’. Sample tasks your child should be able to work through by the end of the unit:  Identify shapes that are polygons and shapes that are not polygons.  Count the number of sides and vertices on a polygon.  Name polygons based on number of sides and vertices.  Combine shapes to make a new shape and then name the new shape based on sides and vertices.    http://goo.gl/VCaSC – Virtual Geoboard use elastics to create shapes on geoboards http://goo.gl/VCaSC - Circular Virtual Geoboards geoboards, sticks, straws, string, clay, marshmallows, pretzels rods, gumdrops, string and chalk to create circles http://goo.gl/MC32lg - Virtual pattern blocks manipulatives to arrange and put together shapes http://goo.gl/OlXxoV -Virtual power polygons - using pattern blocks and shapes to create larger/different shapes. Purposeful Practice at Home:  Use toothpicks, cotton swabs, pretzel sticks etc. to make a variety of polygons. Give clues such as “This polygon has 3 sides and 3 vertices.” Your child will then create the polygon with their materials and name the shape.  Take your child on a Polygon scavenger hunt. Identify different polygons in real life. Rectangles (cabinet doors, wood planks on the floor), squares (tiles on the floor), octagons (stop signs) etc.  Practice drawing polygons, number the sides and vertices and have your child describe shape based on the number of sides and vertices.