- Definition
A trapezoid is a four-sided shape that has at least one pair of sides that run in the same direction and will never touch (these are called parallel sides).
This shape is a trapezoid because its top and bottom sides are parallel.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A trapezoid is like the shape of a bucket or a small bowl, with a flat bottom and a wider, flat top.
Ask your child: Can you draw a shape with a flat bottom and a flat top?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a trapezoid must look like a perfectly symmetrical bucket. A trapezoid just needs one pair of sides that are parallel, like two train tracks that never touch.
Examples
- A drawing of a roof that is flat on top.
- The shape of a little red wagon seen from the side.
- A block that has a wide bottom, a narrow top, and two slanted sides.
trapezoid 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 ↗
