Watch: Recognising 3D shapes
Lets find out more about recognising 3D shapes.
Properties of 3D shapes
A 3D shape is a solid shape. Boxes, packets and balls are all 3D shapes.
3D shapes have three dimensions:
- length
- width
- depth
3D shapes have different properties:
Faces - A face is a flat surface on a 3D shape. For example a cube has 6 faces.
Edges - An edge is where two faces meet. For example a cube has 12 edges.
Vertices - A vertex is a corner where edges meet (the plural is vertices). For example a cube has 8 vertices.
Watch: 3D Shapes
3D shapes have three dimensions - length, width and depth.
Watch the video to learn all about 3D shapes, like cubes, pyramids and spheres.
Shape detective
Take a look at these 3D shapes:
Read the descriptions of each shape to work out which shape each person has.
Question 1
Kirsty has a 3D shape from the group above. It has 5 flat faces. 4 are the same.What shape could it be?
鉁 Her shape must be a square-based pyramid.
The base of this shape is a square, which we know from its name. The other four faces are all triangles.
Question 2
Will has a 3D shape from the group above with 12 edges of equal length. What could his shape be?
鉁 The only 3D shape with 12 equal edges is the cube.
Question 3
Samir counted the vertices on his 3D shape and found there were 8 vertices.
Which shape does he have if it has different sized faces?
鉁 The shapes with 8 vertices are the cube and the cuboid. The cube has 6 faces all the same, but the cuboid has different faces.
Simon鈥檚 shape is the cuboid.
Question 4
Vicki has a shape from the group above with only one vertex. What is her shape?
鉁 The only shape with just one vertex is the cone.
How many vertices are there on the other shapes that have curved surfaces?
Activity 1
Quiz
NEW! Play Karate Cats Maths - the winter update. game
Deck the dojo in the Christmas update and unlock festive outfits for your Karate Cats. Available for a limited time only!
More on Shape and space
Find out more by working through a topic
- count9 of 15
- count10 of 15
- count11 of 15
- count12 of 15