L23 – WWW – Compose Shapes

Working Without Worksheets – Reception Maths: Compose Shapes Introduce Reception pupils to the idea that larger shapes can be composed of smaller shapes with this Working Without Worksheets lesson. Children use squares, rectangles, triangles, and other 2-D shapes to explore how shapes fit together, rotate, and combine to create new ones. The lesson begins with a starter activity : Show an outline of a large square and provide smaller shapes. Model filling the outline with different combinations: e.g. a rectangle, a small square, and 2 triangles. Encourage discussion: “Which shapes fit? How can we combine them?” In the main input , children extend their understanding with new examples: Display another square outline alongside shapes: 2 triangles and a pentagon. Ask: “Which of these shapes could we use to fill the square?” Give children time to discuss and then model the solution using 2 triangles. Explore how triangles themselves can be composed in different ways—using a parallelogram, trapezium, or smaller triangles. Remind children they can rotate and flip shapes to make them fit. For the independent activity , children explore composition at two learning stations: Shape Construction Station – use small squares, rectangles, and triangles to create larger shapes (e.g. How many triangles make a square? ). Shape Matching & Puzzles – fill outline mats with larger shapes, rotating or flipping smaller ones as needed. The plenary brings the class together to discuss strategies: Share how children composed larger shapes and the combinations they discovered. Reinforce that shapes can combine in different ways, but still form the same whole. What’s Included in the Pack? ✔ Full teacher planning with objectives, modelling, and plenary questions ✔ Starter: fill a square outline using smaller shapes ✔ Teacher modelling: use 2 triangles to make a square, explore triangles with trapezium and parallelogram ✔ Vocabulary focus: compose, combine, rotate, flip, triangle, square, rectan