3-D shapes
Recognise and name common 3-D shapes (cubes, cuboids, pyramids, spheres, cylinders, cones)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Recognise cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones using flat faces, curved parts and points
- Match familiar objects to 3-D shapes and recognise that turning them does not change their shape names
- Recognise and compare cuboids and pyramids, and count or check flat faces on familiar solids
1 · Read
A 3-D shape takes up space. We call it a solid shape. A face is a flat part of its outside. Solids may also have curved parts or points. Turning a solid does not change its shape name.
A cube has six square faces, all the same size. A square has four equal straight sides and four square corners. A cube-shaped toy has one face on top, one underneath and four around the middle. To find unchecked faces, count on from the number checked until you reach six.
A round ball is shaped like a sphere. A sphere curves all the way around. It has no flat faces and no corners. Unlike a cube, it has no flat face to rest on.
A cuboid is a box shape with six rectangular faces. Rectangles have four straight sides and square corners. Squares are rectangles too. A cube is a special cuboid with six matching square faces. A long shoe box or cereal box is a cuboid whose faces are not all matching squares.
A cylinder has two flat circle ends and a curved part between them. A tin can has this shape. A circle is round, with no straight sides or corners. A cylinder can stand on a flat end or roll on its curved side.
A cone has one flat circle base and a curved part that meets at one point. A party hat looks like a cone, but its bottom is open. Turning a cone onto its side leaves its base, curved part and point unchanged.
A pyramid has a flat base. Triangle faces meet at one point above it. A triangle has three straight sides. This pyramid has one square base and four triangle faces. Here its faces are laid flat. Unlike a cone, this pyramid has only flat faces. Other pyramids can have different base shapes.
With a grown-up, gently move large toy solids on a clear table. Spheres roll smoothly. Cylinders and cones can roll on curved parts. Cubes and cuboids can slide or tumble over their edges. Watching a solid roll is not enough to name it. To sort a group, check each solid for curves and count each match once.
Check flat faces, curved parts and points to recognise cubes, cuboids, spheres, cylinders, cones and pyramids.
Readings and questions written for this dataset.
More to read
Use more than one clue
A curved part is a useful clue, but several solids have one. A sphere curves all over. A cylinder has a curved middle and two flat circle ends. A cone has a curved part that narrows to a point.
Look for flat parts and points as well as curves. Together, the clues help you choose a shape name.
Check every face
A picture can hide some cube faces. The cube still has six. With a grown-up, turn a large toy cube and check each face once.
Try resting it on a face you have already checked. Look at the other faces. Keep track of which ones you have checked, including the face underneath.
Move a toy solid
Ask a grown-up to help you gently move large toy shapes on a clear table. A sphere rolls smoothly. A cylinder can roll on its curved side or stand on a flat end. A box-shaped toy can slide or tumble.
Turn a cone onto its side. Its point and circle base remain. Its name stays cone.
Two box shapes
Compare a cube-shaped toy with a long shoe box. Both have six rectangular faces, so both belong to the cuboid family.
The cube has an extra feature: all six faces are matching squares. The long shoe box does not have six matching square faces. Calling it a cuboid describes its box shape without calling it a cube.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
17 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.