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Common Core Math2nd GradeGeometry

2.G.1: Recognize and Draw Shapes by Their Attributes

Also written as 2.G.A.1 and CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1 · Cluster: Reason with shapes and their attributes.

Make a Shapes WorksheetAll 26 2nd Grade Math Standards

The Official Wording

Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 2, Geometry · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What 2.G.1 Means in Plain English

Second graders name shapes by counting: 3 sides is a triangle, 4 a quadrilateral, 5 a pentagon, 6 a hexagon, and a solid with 6 equal square faces is a cube. Asked to draw a shape with five angles, they draw any closed five-sided figure, regular or not.

First grade separated defining attributes like side count from color and size (1.G.1). Now the counts get names, and quadrilateral is a new word that holds squares, rectangles and more. In 3rd grade students sort quadrilaterals into rhombuses, rectangles and squares by shared attributes (3.G.1).

2.G.1 I Can Statements

  • I can count the sides and angles of a shape to name it.
  • I can draw a shape with a given number of angles.
  • I can tell a cube by its six equal square faces.

2.G.1 Worked Example

One shape drawn from a count of angles, then four more named from their attributes alone.

Problem

Draw a shape with exactly five angles. Then name the shape with 4 sides, the shape with 6 angles, the shape with 3 sides, and the solid with 6 equal square faces.

Draw five angles, then name by counting
  1. Five angles means five corners, and every corner joins two sides, so the shape has five sides too.5 angles = 5 sides
  2. Draw five straight sides that close up. The sides do not have to be equal. It is still a pentagon.A closed shape with 5 straight sides: pentagon
  3. Four sides and four angles is a quadrilateral, whether it is a square, a rectangle or a lopsided one.4 sides: quadrilateral
  4. Six angles makes a hexagon. Three sides makes a triangle.6 angles: hexagon. 3 sides: triangle.
  5. A solid with six equal square faces is a cube, like a number cube.6 square faces: cube
AnswerA pentagon drawn with 5 sides and 5 angles, and quadrilateral, hexagon, triangle and cube named from their attributes

Check it: Count the corners of the drawn pentagon with a finger, touching each one once: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then count the sides the same way and get 5 again.

Common Mistakes with 2.G.1

A square is not a quadrilateral

“That’s a square, not a quadrilateral.” when sorting four-sided shapes

Try this: Count the sides together. Four sides makes it a quadrilateral, and square is the more specific name it also gets.

Only the regular version counts

A long thin triangle or a dented pentagon called “not a real one”

Try this: Draw a lopsided pentagon beside a regular one and count the angles of each. Five and five, so both are pentagons.

Losing count of sides

A hexagon called a pentagon because a side was counted twice

Try this: Have the student dot a starting corner and tick each side as it is counted, stopping when the dot comes back around.

Where 2.G.1 Fits

Comes Before1.G.1Tell defining attributes like side count from non-defining ones like color.K.G.4Describe shapes by their parts, like number of sides and corners.
Alongside2.G.2Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of equal squares.2.G.3Partition circles and rectangles into halves, thirds and fourths.
Comes Next3.G.1Sort quadrilaterals into rhombuses, rectangles and squares by shared attributes.

Practice 2.G.1

Math Worksheet GeneratorFree ToolGeometry practice at the 2nd grade level with an answer key: count sides and angles, name the shape, spot the quadrilaterals.Grade 2ShapesAnswer key
Make a Worksheet
Graph Paper GeneratorFree ToolGrid paper for drawing. Corners land on grid points, so a shape with five angles is easy to close and easy to count.Large squaresOne pagePrint
Make Graph Paper

Quick Check

  1. A shape has 6 sides and 6 angles. What is it called?
  2. Dev draws a shape with 4 sides where no two sides are the same length. Is it a quadrilateral?
  3. How many faces does a cube have, and what shape is each face?

2.G.1: Other Names

2.G.12.G.A.1CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.