Circle and square

These are the first two friends from the world of shapes — the circle and the square. They look completely different, but both are important.

Circle

A circle is a shape that is perfectly round. If you put your finger on it, you can travel all the way around and never meet a corner.

You can find a circle:

• in the sun
• in car wheels
• on a plate
• on a bicycle tyre
• on a coin

A circle can roll. When you nudge it, it goes a long way because nothing stops it.

Square

A square is the opposite. It has four straight sides and four corners. All four sides are the same length.

You can find a square:

• on a chess board
• on a die (each face is a square)
• on bathroom tiles
• on a picture frame that's just as wide as it is tall

A square doesn't roll. When you put it on the table, it stays put. The corners get in the way.

Comparison

Try it yourself

• draw a circle in the air with your finger — go around and around
• draw a square — four strokes and four corners

Try the exercises

In Name the shape you'll sometimes see a circle, sometimes a square. Click the right name.

In Find the shapes pick a task with circles or squares and find them all.

When that's easy, move on to Triangle and rectangle.