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3D Shapes Exploration

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3D Shapes Exploration

Aotearoa’s community centre is planning a hands-on shape trail. Solve the challenges to help choose, describe and sketch the right 3D shapes. Count a curved surface as a face when describing a cylinder or cone.

Shape clues

Read each clue carefully. Some shapes have flat faces and some have curved surfaces.

1.A parcel is shaped like a solid with 6 equal square faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices. Which shape is it?
  • Cube
  • Cuboid
  • Triangular prism
  • Sphere
2.A rainwater tank has two circular flat ends and one curved surface. Name the 3D shape that best describes it.
3.A solid has 5 flat faces: 2 triangles and 3 rectangles. What is its name?

Build the shape records

For this worksheet, count every flat or curved surface as a face. An edge is where two faces meet; a vertex is a corner where edges meet.

4.Complete the records for each solid: cube, triangular pyramid and cylinder. Give the number of faces, edges and vertices for each.
5.Match each solid to its description by writing the correct letter beside its name: 1. Cone; 2. Cuboid; 3. Sphere; 4. Solid with two triangular ends and three rectangular sides. A. Two triangular faces and three rectangular faces. B. One circular flat face and one curved surface that meets at a point. C. Six rectangular faces, like a shoebox. D. One continuous curved surface, with no flat faces, edges or vertices.
  • 1. Cone
  • 2. Cuboid
  • 3. Sphere
  • 4. Solid with two triangular ends and three rectangular sides
  • C. Six rectangular faces, like a shoebox
  • A. Two triangular faces and three rectangular faces
  • B. One circular flat face and one curved surface that meets at a point
  • D. One continuous curved surface, with no flat faces, edges or vertices
6.Which statements describe all 3D shapes? Select all that apply.
  • They have length, width and height.
  • They take up space.
  • They are always made only of flat faces.
  • They are flat shapes with only length and width.

Design a shape trail

Use your knowledge to help plan the centre’s hands-on trail.

7.A ball-shaped object needs to roll in every direction without catching on an edge. Which solid is the best choice, and what feature makes it suitable?
8.The centre needs a box with a square top and bottom and four rectangular side faces. What solid is it? How many faces does it have altogether?
9.Sketch a cube in the drawing space. Label one face, one edge and one vertex. Your labels should point to the correct parts.
10.Explain one important difference between a cube and a sphere. Include a fact about their faces, edges or vertices.

3 printable pages

  • 3D Shapes Exploration, page 1 of 3: Shape clues

    Page 1

  • 3D Shapes Exploration, page 2 of 3: Build the shape records

    Page 2

  • 3D Shapes Exploration, page 3 of 3: Design a shape trail

    Page 3

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