Hexagon Shape for Kids: Sides, Corners and How to Draw It
A hexagon is a flat shape with 6 straight sides and 6 corners. It has 6 straight sides and 6 corners. Below you will find its properties, how to draw it, where to spot it in real life, and a quick quiz.
A bright hexagon for little learners to explore!
Hexagon at a Glance
| Sides | 6 straight sides |
|---|---|
| Corners (vertices) | 6 |
| Angles | Each angle is 120 degrees in a regular hexagon (720 degrees in total) |
| Lines of symmetry | 6 (in a regular hexagon) |
| Flat or solid | Flat (2D) |
📐 What Makes a Hexagon Special?
A hexagon has 6 straight sides and 6 corners. In a regular hexagon, all the sides are the same length and every inside corner measures 120 degrees. Hexagons fit together side by side with no gaps, which is called tessellating. That is why bees use them for honeycomb: it holds the most honey with the least wax.
🌟 Fun Facts about Hexagon
- Bees build their honeycomb out of hexagons because they fit together perfectly with no gaps.
- A hexagon has 6 sides and 6 angles — "hex" means six!
- Snowflakes often form beautiful six-sided hexagon patterns.
- Nuts and bolts are sometimes shaped like hexagons so wrenches can grip them.
How to Draw a Hexagon
- Draw a short line across the top.
- Draw two slanted lines going down and out from each end.
- Draw two slanted lines going down and back in.
- Join them with a line across the bottom, the same length as the top.
🔎 Where Can You Find a Hexagon?
You can spot the hexagon shape in everyday life, like honeycomb cells, stop-sign-shaped nuts, and soccer ball panels. Try going on a shape hunt around your house or classroom — how many hexagons can you find today?
Common Mix-Ups
Hexagons and octagons are easy to mix up. Count the sides: hexa means 6 and octa means 8.
Quick Quiz: The Hexagon
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
How many sides does a hexagon have?
Six.
Which insect builds honeycomb out of hexagons?
The honey bee.
Does a stop sign have 6 sides or 8?
8. It is an octagon, not a hexagon.
Printable Practice
Practice on paper with the Shapes Tracing and Coloring worksheet and the Shapes Activity worksheet, or play the Shapes Match game.
🏫 Classroom Activity: Shape Hunt & Matching
Send children on a hunt for hexagon shapes — a nut, a pencil's cross-section, pattern blocks — and gather the finds on a table. Then play a matching game: draw several shapes on cards and have kids sort out only the hexagons.
🏠 Homeschool Activity
Build a mini honeycomb using yellow hexagon pattern blocks or paper cutouts, fitting them together edge to edge with no gaps. It's a hands-on way to see why bees chose this shape.
🔬 STEM Connection
Hexagons tile together perfectly and use less material than other shapes to enclose the same space — that's exactly why bees build honeycomb out of hexagons instead of circles or squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sides does a hexagon have?
A hexagon has 6 straight sides.
How many corners does a hexagon have?
A hexagon has 6 corners.
How many lines of symmetry does a hexagon have?
6 (in a regular hexagon).
How do you draw a hexagon?
Draw a short line across the top. Draw two slanted lines going down and out from each end. Draw two slanted lines going down and back in. Join them with a line across the bottom, the same length as the top.
What is a common mistake when learning the hexagon?
Hexagons and octagons are easy to mix up. Count the sides: hexa means 6 and octa means 8.
Summary
A hexagon is a flat shape with 6 straight sides and 6 corners. Remember: 6 straight sides, 6 corners. Next, learn about the octagon, or see all shapes.