Types of Quadrilaterals Explained: Squares, Rectangles, Rhombuses, and More

What Makes a Quadrilateral?

All quadrilaterals must have four sides and four angles. When you add all four angles together, you get a sum of 360°. 

Quadrilaterals can be regular or irregular:

• Regular quadrilaterals are both equilateral (all sides have equal length) and equiangular (all angles are 90°). 
• Irregular quadrilaterals can be either equilateral or equiangular, or neither. 

Common Types of Quadrilaterals

There are plenty of quadrilateral examples. Let’s focus on the most common quadrilaterals for kids in grade school math:

Square

A square is the only quadrilateral that is both equilateral and equiangular. Because squares meet all the criteria for regular quadrilaterals, all squares can technically be considered other types of quadrilaterals. 

Examples: A chessboard, a slice of bread, a die face

Rectangle

A rectangle is a quadrilateral with four right angles and opposite sides equal in length. Rectangles are equiangular but not necessarily equilateral. Therefore, they are not regular quadrilaterals, except in the special case of a square.

Examples: A book, a door, a chalkboard 

Rhombus

Each side of a rhombus has the same length, but all four angles are not necessarily 90°. By this definition, a square can be a rhombus, but not all rhombuses are squares. 

Examples: A diamond shape in playing cards, a kite, a floor tile

Parallelogram

A parallelogram’s parallel sides are equal, but the angles are not necessarily equal. A rectangle can be a parallelogram, but not vice versa. 

Examples: A leaning picture frame, a slanted book cover, an eraser

Trapezoid / Trapezium 

A trapezoid (or trapezium in UK English) has at least one pair of equilateral sides. 

Examples: A ramp, a lamp shade, a flower pot. 

Image suggestion: Illustrated “quadrilateral family tree” diagram showing how each type is related.

Fun Activities To Explore Quadrilaterals

Make learning geometry and quadrilaterals for kids more fun with these activities:

• Shape Hunt: Ask your kids to look around and identify different quadrilaterals around the house or classroom.
• Drawing Challenge: Draw each type of quadrilateral using rulers and grid paper. Encourage them to get creative and turn their drawings into objects or characters.
• Sorting Game: Sort shapes by sides, angles, or parallel sides. Just remember that some quadrilaterals can fall into multiple categories, like squares and rectangles. 
• Tangram Play: Build shapes using tangram pieces to explore quadrilaterals.
• Interactive Quiz: Create a mini-quiz where kids guess the type of quadrilateral from images.

Why Quadrilaterals Matter in Math

Quadrilaterals are just one part of polygons. However, understanding the different types is important to learning geometry:

• Build Geometry Skills: Aside from laying the groundwork for solving perimeter and area math problems, recognizing different quadrilaterals helps understand symmetry. It also helps students build their spatial reasoning skills. 
• Improve Logical Reasoning: Different types of quadrilaterals are formed based on a shape’s sides’ length and angles. Recognizing which types of shapes can fit into one or more categories can help improve how they think. 
• Connect With the Real World: Kids who want to become architects, engineers, or designers need to have a good spatial understanding of how shapes look and affect the spaces around them. 

Prodigy Math turns learning topics like quadrilaterals into interactive geometry activities. Kids can enjoy an immersive fantasy world where progressing requires answering math problems. The fun learning experience makes the process more memorable for learners while providing the tools parents and teachers need to track their progress. 

Image suggestions: An illustrated diagram showing different quadrilaterals (square, rectangle, rhombus, trapezoid, parallelogram) branching out from a central “Quadrilaterals” box, with side notes highlighting skills they build: geometry, logic, and real-world applications like architecture.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

Effective learning can look different for each child. However, some good techniques to make sure your kids can tell the difference between a rhombus and a rectangle include:

• Using Everyday Objects as Examples: Younger children better understand ideas grounded in what they already know. Instead of showing basic shape graphics, give examples in your room or show pictures of things they can see daily.
• Encourage Hands-On Activities: Kids learn better with practical application, not just by being told what is or isn’t a quadrilateral. Give them some graphing paper, a ruler, and a protractor, and guide them through drafting these shapes. 
• Keep Lessons Short and Fun: No matter how fun learning is, an overload of new ideas can lead to burnout or frustration. Keep lessons engaging and space out lessons so that there’s enough time to track.

Keep Learning Fun With Prodigy Math

Quadrilaterals are everywhere, but it’s important for kids learning geometry to be able to tell the differences between the various types. Knowing what separates each shape and how to spot it can help kids see math in action.

With Prodigy Math, your kids can explore quadrilaterals and other geometry concepts in a playful way. It’s free for students and teachers, while parents can sign up for premium memberships to keep the learning going even at home.