Drawing Shapes Given Defining Attributes Worksheet

Drawing shapes given defining attributes is one of the first big ideas in first grade geometry. A defining attribute is something that is always true about a shape, such as the number of sides, the number of corners, or whether the shape is closed. A non-defining attribute is something that can change without changing the shape at all, such as color, size, or the direction the shape is turned. This Drawing Shapes Given Defining Attributes Worksheet asks students to read a short list of attributes, decide which of them really matter, and then draw a shape that fits every clue.

Each of the four boxes on this printable holds one short sentence packed with clues. Two of the boxes slip in a color or a size on purpose, so children have to notice that a small red shape with four equal sides is still a square, and that a big blue shape with six straight sides is still a hexagon. Students read the attributes, picture the shape in their heads, and draw it in the open space inside the box. A friendly reminder at the bottom of the page repeats the big idea, and a complete answer key on the second page shows one correct shape for every clue. Print it for a math station, morning work, homework, or a quick check before you move on to composing new shapes.

What’s Included

• One printable worksheet page with four attribute clue cards
• A roomy drawing box inside every card, sized for first grade pencil work
• Clues covering triangles, squares, rectangles, and hexagons
• Two clues that mix in non-defining attributes so students practice ignoring them
• A full answer key page showing one correct shape for each clue

Three Reasons This Helps Kids

• It turns shape names into shape rules, so students can explain why a shape belongs to a group
• It separates what matters from what does not, which is exactly what the first grade geometry standard asks for
• It lets children answer by drawing, so shy readers and early writers can still show what they know

Ideas for Teachers and Parents

Read the first clue out loud together and think aloud about each attribute before anyone picks up a pencil. Ask students to underline the words that helped them and cross out the words that did not. When the page is finished, have partners trade papers and check whether each drawing really has every defining attribute the clue named. For an extra round, hide the page and give your own clues out loud while children draw on a whiteboard, then let them invent clues for you. This 1st grade geometry worksheet also pairs well with pattern blocks, geoboards, and a shape hunt around the classroom. Because the Drawing Shapes Given Defining Attributes Worksheet uses plain, decodable language, it works just as well for small group intervention as it does for the whole class.

Related Resources

• Sorting Shapes Worksheet
• 2D or 3D Shapes Worksheet
• Find the Polygons Shapes Worksheet
• Shapes Song