---
title: "Building with 3-D Shapes"
description: "Compose three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, right circular cylinders) and create composite shapes; build new shapes from component shapes"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/building-with-3-d-shapes-mt_QNxFnxikCN
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/building-with-3-d-shapes-mt_QNxFnxikCN.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Building with 3-D Shapes

Compose three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, right circular cylinders) and create composite shapes; build new shapes from component shapes

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Geometry · Ages 6 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/building-with-3-d-shapes-mt_QNxFnxikCN

## Ready when they can

- Stack cubes and prisms to build towers or structures
- Combine 3-D shapes to make a new solid (e.g. cone on top of cylinder)
- Describe a composite 3-D shape in terms of its component shapes

## Lesson: Building with 3-D Shapes

You already know cubes, cones, cylinders, and prisms. Now you can put two or more of them together to build something new. A shape made from smaller shapes is called a composite shape.

**Example.** Mia builds a rocket. She stands a cylinder up tall for the body, then sets a cone on top for the nose. The new shape is a composite shape made from a cylinder and a cone.

*(drawing: Mia's rocket is 2 shapes in 1: 1 cylinder for the body and 1 cone on top. Tap the blocks to count the pieces.)*

Cubes and rectangular prisms have flat faces, so they stack well. Line up the flat top of one shape with the flat bottom of the next, and the tower stands steady. A cone balanced on its point tips over easily.

**Tip.** When you describe a composite shape, name each piece and where it sits. A toy robot might be a cube head on a rectangular prism body, standing on two small cubes for feet.

**Recap.** A composite shape is built from two or more 3-D shapes, and you can always describe it by naming its parts.

## Practice

18 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Building & Drawing Shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/building-and-drawing-shapes-mt_2VR963szuk)
- [3-D shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/3-d-shapes-mt_Qcp2d_kuta)

## Opens up

- [Nets of 3-D Shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/nets-of-3-d-shapes-mt_vnJEztczji)