Folding Shapes

■ This geometry activity has been adapted by Averil Lee from the work of Gay West (NT, Australia).

Folding Shapes

■ A4 coloured paper can be folded to make many 2 D shapes with no measuring or cutting

■ Follow the diagrams ■ See if you can make the shapes■ Try these folds with A3 and A5

paper

Can you name this shape?

■ What can you tell me about this special quadrilateral?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these kites?■ What are the functions of this

shape, in real life?

Can you name this shape?

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?■ Compare it to the kite – how are

they the same, how are they different?

■ Function of the shape?

Name this shape

■ What can you tell me about this special triangle?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Fold it in half and investigate the new

shape.■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1, 2, 3,

or more of these shapes?

This is a very common shape

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Can you fold it in interesting ways?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?■ Functions of this shape?

What is special about this shape?

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ Explain what ‘parallel’ means.■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?■ Function?

What is special about this shape?

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?■ Function?

This regular shape is a . . . ■ What can you tell me about this shape?■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1, 2, 3,

or more of these shapes?■ Function is real life?

That was tricky . . .

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?■ Function?

That was easy . . .

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ How is this shape different to the others we have made?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate with other shapes?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?

That was easy . . .

■ What can you tell me about this shape?

■ Look at the sides and angles . . .■ What about lines of symmetry?■ Will it tessellate with other shapes?■ What shapes can you make with 1,

2, 3, or more of these shapes?

How many more shapes can make?

Try ■ folding all the shapes in half■ joining some different shapes■ overlapping the shapes■ using larger paper A3■ using smaller paper A5, A6 etc (Record your investigations and have

fun!)