Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Quadrilateral Properties: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Quadrilateral Properties is a free printable maths worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children fill in a table about five four sided shapes: square, rectangle, rhombus, kite and trapezium. They decide whether each shape has four equal sides and count its pairs of parallel sides. It takes about 15 minutes and needs only a pencil and a ruler.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Page 2 has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children complete a table about five quadrilaterals: square, rectangle, rhombus, kite and trapezium. For each shape they write yes or no for four equal sides, then write the number of pairs of parallel sides. There are also lines for writing. The task is to compare the shapes carefully, using a ruler and a real shape to check rather than guessing by eye.
- Shape
- Four equal sides? (yes or no)
- Pairs of parallel sides
How to check a shape
Check for equal sides
Lay a ruler along one side and read its length. Do the same for each of the other sides. Sides are equal only when they measure the same. Looking is not enough, so always measure.
Check for parallel sides
Parallel sides stay the same distance apart and never meet. Place a ruler against one side, then slide it along. If it fits against another side all the way, those two sides are parallel.
Count the pairs
Parallel sides come in pairs. Mark one pair with matching arrows, then look for a second pair using different arrows. Count the pairs, not the sides.
Record and compare
Write each answer in the table straight away. When the table is full, look down the columns. Which shapes match? Which are different? Say why.
Why compare shapes by their properties?
A quadrilateral is any flat shape with four straight sides. Many different shapes belong to that group. To tell them apart, mathematicians look at properties, such as whether sides are equal in length and whether sides are parallel. Two shapes that look alike at first glance can have quite different properties, which is why careful checking matters.
A shape keeps its type when you turn it, flip it or move it to a new place. Making it bigger or smaller by the same amount keeps its type too. But if you change the length of some sides, you can end up with a different shape. This is why children learn to check properties rather than judge by the way a shape is sitting on the page.
Quick quadrilateral facts
- The word quadrilateral comes from Latin words meaning four and side.
- Every quadrilateral has four straight sides and four corners.
- Parallel lines stay the same distance apart and never meet, however far they go.
- Railway tracks are built to run parallel so that trains can travel along them safely.
- Turning a shape round does not change the length of its sides.
Skills and curriculum link
- Shape properties
- Parallel sides
- Comparing shapes
- Using a ruler
- Mathematical vocabulary
- Reasoning
Helpful ideas for talking about quadrilaterals
- Four sides, four cornersA quadrilateral always has four straight sides and four corners. Counting them first is a good way to start looking at any shape.
- Parallel means same distance apartParallel lines run in the same direction and never meet. Railway tracks and the long edges of a ruler are good everyday examples.
- Equal means the same lengthSides are equal when they measure the same. A ruler gives a reliable answer, but a quick look can be wrong.
- Turning keeps the shapeA shape that is turned or flipped still has the same sides. Rotate the paper to see it from a new angle before deciding.
Key words
- QuadrilateralA flat shape with four straight sides.
- ParallelLines that stay the same distance apart and never meet.
- PairTwo things that go together. A pair of parallel sides is two sides that are parallel to each other.
- EqualThe same in size or length.
- PropertySomething that is true about a shape, such as what its sides are like.
- SideOne of the straight edges of a shape.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Gather a ruler and a real rectangle, such as a book or a piece of card, so your child can check parallel sides by sliding the ruler along them.
- Work through the first shape together. Ask your child to say what they notice about its sides before they write anything.
- Let your child fill in the rest of the table. Encourage them to measure and check rather than guess. Allow about 15 minutes.
- Check with page 2 and talk about each choice. Come back another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one row together with a real square. Ask your child to point to the sides that run the same way and never meet. Then use a ruler to measure each side and compare the lengths. Fill in one shape at a time.
To stretch confident children
Sort the five shapes into a Venn diagram with two rings: has parallel sides and has four equal sides. Ask your child to explain where each shape goes. Then ask whether any shape could sit in both rings, and why.
Make it a game
Play shape riddles. One player describes a shape using only facts about its sides, and the other player names it. Swap roles after each turn. Score a point for each correct guess, and use a ruler to settle any arguments.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child thinks parallel sides must be the same length.
Try thisDraw two lines of different lengths that stay the same distance apart. Show that parallel is about direction and distance, not length.
Watch forA child counts the number of parallel sides instead of the number of pairs.
Try thisMark each pair with its own matching arrows. Then count the sets of arrows, not the sides.
Watch forA child decides sides are equal just by looking.
Try thisAsk them to measure each side with a ruler and write the lengths down. Then compare the numbers.
Watch forA child thinks a turned shape has become a different shape.
Try thisTurn the paper so the shape sits the usual way up. Check that the sides have not changed.
Talk about it
- How can you check that two sides are parallel without just looking?
- Which property did you find easiest to check, and why?
- Which two shapes are the most alike? What is different about them?
- How would you describe a kite to someone who could not see it?
- Can you think of anything at home with parallel lines?
- Why is it better to measure than to guess?
Take it off the page
Parallel lines hunt
Walk around your home or school and look for parallel lines. Try window frames, shelves, doors and fences. Draw three of them and mark the parallel sides with arrows.
Build with lolly sticks
Use lolly sticks and sticky tack to make four sided shapes. Try four sticks of the same length, then mix long and short sticks. Talk about how the shapes change. Adults should cut any sticks that need shortening.
Shape riddle cards
Draw each of the five shapes on a separate card. Write a clue about its sides on the back. Shuffle the cards and read the clues aloud for someone else to guess.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first shape and let them lead. Keep a ruler and a real rectangle to hand. Ask them to explain each choice. About 15 minutes is plenty, so stop there if they are tired.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. The table gives clear evidence of how well pupils compare shapes by their properties, and page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with shape hunts around the house and building shapes from straws or sticks. You can use it again with brothers and sisters, or for a quick revision task a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children name and describe flat shapes, count sides and corners, and learn about lines that are parallel or perpendicular. Handling real shapes and using the right words helps them reach this stage with confidence.
After this sheet, children classify shapes in more detail, including triangles, and use properties such as angles and lines of symmetry to explain their choices. In upper Key Stage 2 they reason about shapes and solve problems using what they know about properties.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Quadrilateral Properties for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9) in Key Stage 2. Children in nearby year groups may enjoy it too, especially for revision or as a gentle introduction to comparing four sided shapes.
- What will children practise?
Children compare a square, rectangle, rhombus, kite and trapezium by equal sides and parallel sides. They fill in a table and practise using a ruler to check, as well as using the right maths words.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes for one child. Work through the first shape together, then let your child fill in the rest. A ruler and a real rectangle help with checking parallel sides.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do one row together with a real square. Ask your child to point to the sides that run the same way and never meet. Use a ruler to measure the sides, and take the shapes one at a time.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. The sheet prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 includes help and a stretch idea for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity, and is it free?
Yes to both. It is free to print for home and classroom use. It needs only paper, a pencil and a ruler, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.