--- title: "3-D shapes" description: "Recognise and name common 3-D shapes (cubes, cuboids, pyramids, spheres, cylinders, cones)" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/3-d-shapes-mt_Qcp2d_kuta source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/3-d-shapes-mt_Qcp2d_kuta.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # 3-D shapes Recognise and name common 3-D shapes (cubes, cuboids, pyramids, spheres, cylinders, cones) Subject: Mathematics · Area: Geometry · Ages 4 to 6 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/3-d-shapes-mt_Qcp2d_kuta ## Ready when they can - 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 ## Lesson: 3-D shapes 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. **Example.** 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. **Example.** 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. **Example.** 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. **Example.** 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. **Example.** 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. **Example.** 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. *(drawing: These are the cube's six faces laid flat. A solid view can hide some faces.)* **Example.** 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. **Recap.** Check flat faces, curved parts and points to recognise cubes, cuboids, spheres, cylinders, cones and pyramids. ## Practice 17 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Opens up - [Pyramids and the Great Sphinx](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/pyramids-and-the-great-sphinx-mt_mmudyxf7bT) - [Flat vs Solid Shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/flat-vs-solid-shapes-mt_mnEVZNkX3p) - [Edges, vertices, and faces](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/edges-vertices-and-faces-mt_Mnodea7mG_) - [Building with 3-D Shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/building-with-3-d-shapes-mt_QNxFnxikCN) - [Comparing 2-D and 3-D shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-2-d-and-3-d-shapes-mt_yGv8doDAmp)