Geometry is like a fun place with different shapes.
Some shapes have straight sides, some are round, some are tall, and some are short.
Today, we are going to meet two special shapes in the shape world — the Square and the Rectangle.
Think of them as cousins in the shape family.
They look similar but have their own special features.
What is Geometry?
Before we meet our friends, let’s understand where they live.
Geometry is a part of math that talks about shapes, sizes, and how they take up space.
If you look around your room, you will see many shapes — a book, a door, a tile, a TV screen.
Some of these are rectangles and some are squares.
Meet the Square
Imagine a shape that is perfectly balanced — all sides are the same length, and all corners are neat right angles (90 degrees).
Definition of a Square:
A square is a four-sided shape (a quadrilateral) with:
All four sides equal in length
All four corners are right angles (90 degrees)
Features of a Square:
Four equal sides
Each side has the same measurement.
Four right angles
Each corner looks like the corner of a book or a piece of paper.
Two pairs of parallel sides
The opposite sides run straight and never meet.
Four vertices (corners) and four edges (sides).
Symmetry
A square can be folded in half in many ways, and both parts will match perfectly.
Example of a Square in Real Life:
A chessboard square
A carrom board pocket outline
Square tiles on the floor
A Rubik’s cube face
Meet the Rectangle
Now, imagine a shape that is a little stretched — longer in one direction and shorter in the other, but still neat with equal angles.
Definition of a Rectangle:
A rectangle is a four-sided shape (quadrilateral) with:
Opposite sides equal in length
All four corners are right angles (90 degrees)
Features of a Rectangle:
Two equal long sides and two equal short sides
Four right angles
Two pairs of parallel sides
Four vertices and four edges
Symmetry
A rectangle can be folded along its length or width, and both halves will match.
Example of a Rectangle in Real Life:
A door
A book cover
A mobile phone screen
A TV
How are Squares and Rectangles Related?
Here’s a fun fact — all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares!
Why?
A square has equal opposite sides (just like a rectangle) and all sides equal — so it fits the rectangle’s rules.
But a rectangle usually has two long sides and two short sides, so it doesn’t always fit the square’s rules.
Think of it like this:
A square is a special rectangle.
A rectangle is more general.
Comparing Squares and Rectangles
Feature Square Rectangle
Sides All 4 sides equal Opposite sides equal
Angles All 90 degrees All 90 degrees
Symmetry 4 lines of symmetry 2 lines of symmetry
Diagonals Equal, meet at right angles Equal, meet but not at right angles (usually)
Real-life example Chessboard square Door
Properties of Squares
Perimeter of a Square
Perimeter = 4 × side length
Example: If each side = 5 cm,
Perimeter = 4 × 5 = 20 cm
Area of a Square
Area = side × side = side²
Example: If each side = 5 cm,
Area = 5 × 5 = 25 cm²
Properties of Rectangles
Perimeter of a Rectangle
Perimeter = 2 × (length + breadth)
Example: If length = 6 cm, breadth = 4 cm,
Perimeter = 2 × (6 + 4) = 2 × 10 = 20 cm
Area of a Rectangle
Area = length × breadth
Example: If length = 6 cm, breadth = 4 cm,
Area = 6 × 4 = 24 cm²
Diagonals in Squares and Rectangles
Square: Diagonals are equal and meet at 90° (right angles).
Rectangle: Diagonals are equal but usually meet at angles less than or more than 90° (except when it’s a square).
Example:
Draw a square and rectangle on paper and connect opposite corners — see the difference!
Fun Activities for Kids
Shape Hunt Game
Look around your home and list 5 square things and 5 rectangular things.
Measuring Challenge
Take a scale and measure the sides of your notebook (rectangle) and a tile (square).
Draw and Color
Draw a big square and divide it into 4 equal smaller squares — you just made a mini grid.
Interesting Facts
A square is the most symmetrical quadrilateral.
If you rotate a square by 90°, it still looks the same — but a rectangle may not.
In chess, the 64 squares make up the playing board — each square is important.
Credit/debit cards are always rectangles, never squares — easier to fit in wallets.
Story Time — The Shape Family
Once upon a time, in the Land of Geometry, there lived two cousins:
Sammy Square and Ricky Rectangle.
Sammy was proud because all his sides were exactly the same.
Ricky was proud because he was good at being different — two long sides and two short sides.
One day, they played a game to see who could fit into more places.
Sammy found himself in tiles, dice, and chessboards.
Ricky found himself in doors, books, and screens.
They laughed and realized — both were special in their own ways!
Why Should We Learn About Squares and Rectangles?
Helps in measurement — Knowing perimeter and area helps in building houses, making furniture, and designing clothes.
Everyday use — We see and use these shapes every day without realizing.
Foundation for bigger math — Understanding these shapes helps in studying more complex figures like cubes and cuboids.
