enVision Mathematics Grade 2, Topic 15: Shapes and Their Attributes
In this unit, the year ends with shapes. Your child names and draws triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes by counting their sides, angles, and faces. They split rectangles into rows and columns of equal squares, and divide circles and rectangles into halves, thirds, and fourths. These ideas lead to area and fractions in 3rd grade.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Topic 15?
- Naming and drawing shapes by their features, such as three angles for a triangle or six faces for a cube. Learn more: Naming triangles, hexagons, cubes, and more
- Splitting a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares and counting how many squares there are. Learn more: Splitting a rectangle into rows of squares
- Dividing circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares and naming them halves, thirds, or fourths. Learn more: Halves, thirds, and fourths of shapes
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Which of these shapes has exactly three angles?
- Hexagon
- Triangle
- Square
How you can help
- Hunt for shapes on a walk, such as triangles in a roof or rectangles in windows, and count the sides and angles of each one.
- Draw a rectangle on paper and ask your child to split it into 3 rows of 4 equal squares, then count them row by row.
- Fold a sheet of paper or a napkin into halves, then fourths, and ask your child why a fourth is smaller than a half.
Where kids can get stuck
- Thinking a quadrilateral must be a square or rectangle, and leaving out kites and slanted four-sided shapes.
- Drawing squares of different sizes inside a rectangle, so the rows are not truly equal.
- Thinking a third is bigger than a half because 3 is bigger than 2.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- angle
- The corner where two sides of a shape meet.
- side
- One of the straight lines that form the edge of a flat shape.
- quadrilateral
- Any flat shape with 4 straight sides and 4 angles.
- pentagon
- A flat shape with 5 straight sides and 5 angles.
- hexagon
- A flat shape with 6 straight sides and 6 angles.
- face
- A flat side of a solid shape. A cube has 6 faces.
- row
- A line of objects going across.
- equal shares
- Parts of a whole that are all exactly the same size.
- fourth
- One of four equal shares of a whole, also called a quarter.
Want to help your child master shapes and equal shares?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
Join the club
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does enVision Mathematics Grade 2 Topic 15 cover?
enVision Mathematics Grade 2 Topic 15 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.