A Little Interactive Math Story: Shapes Turn volume up for narration. Click the space bar or right arrow to turn the page.

All the little polygons in Mr All the little polygons in Mr. Trapezium’s class were playing in the park after school. Tina Triangle was showing off her new bow, which sat prettily on top of one of her vertices. Click Tina’s bow to make it spin!

“Don’t you like it Sara. ” she said “Don’t you like it Sara?” she said. Sara Square replied, “Yes, it’s quite cute. But I could never wear a bow like that. I have no vertex at the top of my head like you.” Suddenly, a ball came flying towards the girls! Click the ball to make it fly across the screen!

“Aaaaaagh!” screamed Tina Triangle and Sara Square as a bunch of boys went running by. “Those naughty boys!” said Sara. Click on Sarah Square to see the boys run by.

Daniel Decagon overheard the girls and ran back to check on them Daniel Decagon overheard the girls and ran back to check on them. “Are you girls okay?” Daniel said. “I am sorry the ball almost hit you. It was an accident.” “Yes, we are fine, but we are mad!” said Tina Triangle.

Then Paul Pentagon came up and said to Tina Triangle, “You are just mad because you don’t have as many vertices as us.” “What? No, I don’t care about that,” said Tina. “I have 5 sides and 5 pointy vertices. My mom says I’m sharp and that makes me awesome,” said Paul.

Vertices are where two sides of a polygon meet Vertices are where two sides of a polygon meet. You could call them corners. Click on Paul Pentagon to count his vertices with me.

By this time, the others had arrived By this time, the others had arrived. Harry Hexagon said, “I’m cooler than you Paul, because I’ve got 6 sides and 6 vertices. Plus, I am symmetrical.” “That’s nothing,” said Henry Heptagon. “I’ve got 7 of each!” “Oh yeah? I’ve got 8 sides and 8 vertices, so that makes me better than you guys!” said Oliver Octagon.

“Look at me. I’ve got 9 sides and vertices. I am the best of all “Look at me. I’ve got 9 sides and vertices. I am the best of all!” said Norton Nonagon. Just then, they heard someone crying softly, just a little distance away. Who could that be? Click on Norton Nonagon to find out who is crying.

“Look over there. ” said Daniel Decagon “Look over there!” said Daniel Decagon. “It’s a little circle from the baby class. Why is she crying?” They all walked over to the little circle. Tina Triangle asked, “What’s your name, little circle?” “My name is Celina Circle,” she said quietly. “Why are you crying?” asked Paul Pentagon. “I don’t have any sides or vertices. I will never be special like you without sides or vertices,” Celina said.

Daniel Decagon realized that Celina must have overheard the boys boasting about their many sides and vertices. Poor girl! Daniel said, “I have the most of all; ten sides and vertices. But I am no more special than you. In fact, I nearly look like you! I am like a bumpy circle. But because of my many vertices, I will never be able to roll so smoothly as you can, Celina Circle.”

“Oh, I never thought about that,” said Celina Circle “Oh, I never thought about that,” said Celina Circle. Tina Triangle added, “I could never wear a cute headband like you, because my head is pointy, not round.”

Sarah Square added, “You even have a whole set of measurements just for you because you are a circle.” “Really? Like what?” asked Celina. “Like radius, diameter, and circumference!” said Sarah Square. Click on Celina Circle to see the special measurements.

“Cool!” said Celina. “I can’t wait to tell my little brother and sister. I am very happy to be a circle now. Thank you.” Just then, another ball came flying at them! Click the ball to make it fly across the screen.

“Aaaaaagh!” screamed everyone, as a group of cubes and cylinders ran past. Click on Harry Hexagon to see the cubes and cylinders run past.

“Those naughty 3-D figures. ” said Sara “Those naughty 3-D figures!” said Sara. Daniel Decagon just shook his head and said, “Come on everyone. Let’s go play on the slide.”

The End