A pentagon is a closed, two-dimensional shape made of exactly five straight line segments and five vertices, or corners. Identification depends on counting its sides and vertices rather than its size, color, orientation, or regularity, so irregularly shaped pentagons are included; measuring angles, perimeter, or area and classifying more advanced properties are not part of this understanding.
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- Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Identify pentagons you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Identify pentagons” from different perspectives.
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Detailed Explanation: Identify pentagons
A pentagon is a closed, flat shape with exactly:
- straight sides
- corners, also called vertices
To identify one, trace around the outside and count the sides or corners. The shape can be large, small, tilted, or uneven.
Example:
B
/ \
A C
\ /
E---D
Step 1: Start at corner and trace around the shape.
Step 2: Count the straight sides:
- to
- to
- to
- to
- to
Step 3: Count the corners: , , , , and . There are corners.
Because the shape is closed and has exactly straight sides and corners, it is a pentagon.
Learn by doing: Identify pentagons
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Practice:
Classifying Polygons by Sides
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Download/Modify Free Grade 2 'Identify pentagons' Worksheet
Print this free 'Identify pentagons' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Classifying Polygons by Sides
- Classifying Polygons by Sides (Real World)
- Classifying Polygons by Sides - Reversed
- 2D Shapes by Vertex Count
- 2D Shapes by Side Count
- Polygons - Name to Number of Sides
- Polygons - Number of Sides to Name - First Time
- 2D Shapes by Side and Vertex Count
Units Teaching This Skill
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