Geometry, Measurement & Data

Exploring Shapes and Positions

Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3

✓Identify and name common 2D shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle).
✓Identify and name common 3D shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder, cone, rectangular prism).
✓Describe and compare 2D and 3D shapes using their attributes (sides, vertices, faces, edges).
✓Use positional language to describe the location of objects (e.g., above, below, beside, in front of, behind, left, right).

Key concepts

2D Shapes (Flat Shapes)

2D shapes are flat shapes that can be drawn on paper. They have straight or curved sides and vertices (corners). We can only see their length and width.

Common 2D Shapes and Their Attributes

• Circle: A round shape with no straight sides and no vertices.\n• Square: A shape with 4 equal straight sides and 4 vertices.\n• Triangle: A shape with 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.\n• Rectangle: A shape with 4 straight sides and 4 vertices. Its opposite sides are equal in length.

3D Shapes (Solid Shapes)

3D shapes are solid shapes that take up space. They have faces (flat surfaces), edges (where faces meet), and vertices (corners). We can see their length, width, and height.

Common 3D Shapes and Their Attributes

• Cube: A solid shape with 6 square faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices (like a dice).\n• Sphere: A perfectly round solid shape with 1 curved surface, no flat faces, no edges, and no vertices (like a ball).\n• Cylinder: A solid shape with 2 circular faces, 1 curved surface, 2 edges, and no vertices (like a can of soup).\n• Cone: A solid shape with 1 circular face, 1 curved surface, 1 edge, and 1 vertex (like an ice cream cone).\n• Rectangular Prism: A solid shape with 6 rectangular faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices (like a tissue box).

Position (Where Things Are)

Positional language helps us describe where an object is in relation to another object or a space. These words tell us about location.

Common Positional Words

• Above: Higher than something else.\n• Below: Lower than something else.\n• Beside/Next to: Right by the side of something.\n• In front of: Closer to you than something else.\n• Behind: Further away from you than something else.\n• Left/Right: Directions based on a viewpoint.\n• Inside: Within the boundaries of something.\n• Outside: Not within the boundaries of something.\n• On: Resting on the surface of something.\n• Under: Directly below something.

Key facts to remember

12D shapes are flat, and 3D shapes are solid.
2A square has 4 equal straight sides and 4 vertices.
3A triangle has 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.
4A circle has no straight sides and no vertices.
5A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices.
6A sphere is round and has 1 curved surface, no flat faces, no edges, and no vertices.
7Positional words like 'above', 'below', 'beside', 'in front of', and 'behind' help us describe where things are.

Worked examples

Example 1

Look at this shape. What is its name? How many straight sides does it have? How many vertices does it have?

IFirst, observe the shape. Is it flat or solid? This shape is flat, so it's a 2D shape.

IICount the straight lines that form the outside of the shape. These are the sides. There are 3 straight lines.

IIICount the points where the sides meet. These are the vertices (corners). There are 3 vertices.

IVRecall the name of the 2D shape that has 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.

Answer

This is a triangle. It has 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.

Imagine a drawing of a triangle for this problem.

Example 2

Look at this shape. What is its name? How many flat faces does it have?

IFirst, observe the shape. Is it flat or solid? This shape is solid, so it's a 3D shape.

IIIdentify the flat surfaces on the shape. These are called faces.

IIICarefully count all the flat faces. A cube has 6 flat faces.

IVRecall the name of the 3D shape that has 6 square faces.

Answer

This is a cube. It has 6 flat faces.

Imagine a drawing of a cube for this problem.

Example 3

The red apple is ______ the green box. Choose the best word to fill in the blank: above, below, or beside.

ILook at the picture of the red apple and the green box.

IIObserve the position of the red apple in relation to the green box.

IIIThe apple is positioned higher than the box.

IVChoose the positional word that means 'higher than'.

Answer

The red apple is above the green box.

Imagine a drawing where a red apple is placed on top of a green box, slightly floating above it.

Common mistakes

✗Confusing the names of 2D and 3D shapes (e.g., calling a square a cube, or a circle a sphere).
✗Incorrectly counting the number of sides, vertices, faces, or edges for a shape.
✗Mixing up positional words (e.g., saying 'below' when an object is 'above').
✗Forgetting that a circle has no straight sides and a sphere has no flat faces.

Exam tips

★Read the question carefully to know if it's asking about 2D (flat) or 3D (solid) shapes.
★Use your finger to trace the sides, edges, and count the vertices or faces on a drawing of a shape.
★Draw a simple picture or use objects if it helps you understand the position of things.
★Practice using positional words in your everyday conversations to describe where things are.

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