A hexagon is a two-dimensional, closed polygon with exactly six straight sides and six vertices. Identifying hexagons requires attending to these defining properties rather than a shape’s size, orientation, color, or whether its sides are equal or arranged regularly; shapes with curved boundaries or a different number of sides are not hexagons. This classification supports later work with polygons, attributes, measurement, and composing or decomposing shapes.
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- Learn “Identify hexagons” with a detailed explanation of the concept
- Master “Identify hexagons” with unlimited, free practice problems
- Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Identify hexagons you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Identify hexagons” from different perspectives.
- Start working on adaptive units like “Geometry Basics - Advanced” or “Geometry Basics - Intro” that introduce, teach, or practice “Identify hexagons” to maximize your learning.
Detailed Explanation: Identify hexagons
Start by checking three things:
- The shape is closed—there are no openings.
- All its sides are straight.
- It has exactly six sides and six corners (vertices).
A shape with these properties is a hexagon. Its sides do not have to be the same length, and it can be tilted or stretched.
Example: Is this shape a hexagon?
Suppose a closed shape has corners labeled , , , , , and .
- Start at corner .
- Trace each straight side:
, , , , , and . - Count the sides: there are .
- Count the corners: there are also .
- The sides are straight, and the shape closes back at .
Therefore, the shape is a hexagon.
Learn by doing: Identify hexagons
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Practice:
Identify Shapes 2D - Count Hexagons
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Download/Modify Free Grade 2 'Identify hexagons' Worksheet
Print this free 'Identify hexagons' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Identify Shapes 2D - Count Hexagons
- Identify Shapes 2D - Count Hexagons (Real World)
- Classifying Polygons by Sides
- Count Sides on 2D Shapes
- 2D Shapes by Vertex Count
- 2D Shapes by Side and Vertex Count
- 2D Shapes by Side Count
- Classifying Polygons by Sides - Reversed
Units Teaching This Skill
These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Identify hexagons) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.