- Definition
A square is a shape with four straight sides that are all the same length, and all its corners are perfect "L" shapes.
A floor tile with four equal sides and four square corners is a square.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A square is like a cheese cracker or a floor tile, where every side is the same length.
Ask your child: Look around. What things can you spot that are shaped like a square?
Common mix-up: Kids often think squares and rectangles are totally different shapes. A square is actually a special kind of rectangle where all four sides are equal.
Examples
- A checkerboard is a large square made of many smaller squares.
- A sticky note is often a square.
square is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
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 ↗
