Prefixes and Polygons: Naming Shapes by Number of Sides

Math Songs by NUMBEROCK

A high-energy, animated musical lesson that teaches students how to identify and name polygons based on their number of sides. The video uses a catchy hip-hop song to introduce Greek prefixes (Tri-, Quad-, Penta-, etc.) and connects each shape to real-world objects, such as a sailboat, a door, and a stop sign. It covers shapes ranging from triangles (3 sides) to decagons (10 sides). The video reinforces the relationship between the prefix and the number of sides, helping students memorize geometric vocabulary through rhyme and repetition. It features a "call and response" quiz section where viewers are asked to identify shapes, as well as a visual counting sequence that highlights the sides of each polygon as they are counted. In addition to naming shapes, the video explicitly defines the rules of what constitutes a polygon: it must be a closed shape and must have straight sides. This resource is excellent for introducing geometry units, reviewing vocabulary, or helping students understand the linguistic roots of mathematical terms.