Hello kids! Today we're going to learn about a special shape called a parallelogram. A parallelogram is a flat shape with four straight sides and four corners. The most special thing about it is that the sides across from each other are parallel, which means they go in the same direction and never touch, just like train tracks! And these opposite sides are also the same length.
Now let's look at some examples of parallelograms that you might know! A rectangle is a parallelogram where all the corners are square corners. A square is a special rectangle where all four sides are the same length. A rhombus looks like a diamond shape, and it's also a parallelogram. All of these shapes follow the same rule: opposite sides are parallel and the same length!
Let's think about train tracks to understand parallel lines! Train tracks are a perfect example of parallel lines. They go in the same direction, they never touch each other, and they always stay the same distance apart. In a parallelogram, the opposite sides work just like train tracks - they are parallel to each other!
Now let's look for parallelograms in the real world! They are everywhere around us. Windows and doors are rectangles, which are parallelograms. Floor tiles are often squares, which are also parallelograms. Picture frames are rectangles too. Building blocks and many other things we see every day are parallelograms. Can you think of more examples around your house or school?
Great job learning about parallelograms today! Let's remember what we learned. A parallelogram is a shape with four sides and four corners. The opposite sides are parallel, just like train tracks, and they are the same length. Rectangles, squares, and rhombuses are all special types of parallelograms. And we can find parallelograms everywhere around us in windows, doors, tiles, and many other things. Keep looking for parallelograms wherever you go!