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Spot the Combined Shapes

In this worksheet, students will identify the combined shape made from two given shapes, where one of the shapes may have been rotated or overlapped. The focus will be on identifying shape, size and shading.

'Spot the Combined Shapes' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 2

Year:  Year 4 11+ worksheets

Curriculum topic:   Spatial and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Curriculum subtopic:   Combined Shapes

Difficulty level:  

Worksheet Overview

Hi there, shape mixer!

It’s time to combine some shapes with the magical powers of our minds!

This type of question is laid out like an addition sum in maths.

Look at the two shapes below:

 

Use your shape-moving mind powers to imagine these two shapes combining together.

They can’t rotate, but they are allowed to overlap.

How many different ways can you think of them combining together?

Look at the options below:

 

 

Which of these options can be made by combining our two shapes together?

We need to focus on one of our original shapes at a time and investigate whether it has stayed the same shape and size in our options while maintaining the same shading too.

 

These three S’s are very important so always be on the lookout for these features - remember:
Shape

Size

Shading

 

Let’s start with the black house-shape.

Which options use this house-shape with the same shape, shading and size?

Options a and b do! 

 

Now, let’s look at the blank circle.

This is used with the same shape, shading and size in options a, c and d

The only combined shape option which matches both of our original shapes is option a.

This makes option a our correct answer. 

 

Let’s look at another pair of shapes now to practice our combination skills further:

 

This time, one of the given shapes can rotate when the shapes combine. 

Which of the options below can be made by combining the two shapes above?

 

 

Even though one of the shapes can rotate, we still use the same technique as we did in the last example.

First, let’s look for the options with the same shape, shading and size as our first shape - the blank square with a black circle inside.

Only options a and b show exactly the same shape here, as options c and d have different shading inside the small circle.

 

Now, let’s focus on the thick line.

Which options show this line with the same shape, shading and size?

Options b and c do. 

This makes option b our correct answer, as it is the only option that matches both of our original shapes.

 

In option b, the square has rotated to combine with the thick line.

It’s now your turn to go on the hunt for combined shapes where one of the shapes might have been rotated...

 

11+ detective image

                                       Top tip!

Remember to check that both of the original shapes stay the same shape, size and shading in the combined shape. 

 

Good luck, shape mixer!

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