- Definition
Something that is "geometric" looks like a basic shape such as a triangle, square, or circle, or a pattern made from these shapes.
A checkerboard has a geometric pattern of repeating squares.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Geometric shapes are like the basic shapes of your building blocks — squares, triangles, and rectangles.
Ask your child: What geometric shapes can you find in this room?
Common mix-up: Kids may think 'geometric' only means perfect shapes like circles. It can also describe anything made of straight lines or simple curves, like a striped pattern.
Examples
- The tiles on a bathroom floor often make a geometric pattern.
- A drawing of a sun with straight lines for rays is geometric.
geometric is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 1 The Arts
- Grade 5 The Arts
- Grade 8 The Arts
- Grade 2 Mathematics
- Grade 4 Mathematics
- Grade 5 Mathematics
- Grade 6 Mathematics
- Grade 7 Mathematics
+3 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
