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:
There are plenty of quadrilateral examples. Let’s focus on the most common quadrilaterals for kids in grade school math:
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
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
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
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
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.
Make learning geometry and quadrilaterals for kids more fun with these activities:
Quadrilaterals are just one part of polygons. However, understanding the different types is important to learning geometry:
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.
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:
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.