Shape & Space
3D Shapes
Junior Infants · Senior Infants · 1st Class · 2nd Class
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and name common 3D shapes: cube, cuboid, sphere, cylinder, and cone.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to describe simple properties of 3D shapes, such as whether they can roll or stack.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to match 3D shapes to real-world objects.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to sort 3D shapes based on their properties.
Key concepts
A cube is a 3D shape that has 6 flat faces, and all of its faces are squares. Think of a dice or a building block. Cubes can stack, but they cannot roll.
A cuboid is a 3D shape that also has 6 flat faces, but its faces are rectangles (or a mix of squares and rectangles). Think of a shoebox or a brick. Cuboids can stack, but they cannot roll.
A sphere is a perfectly round 3D shape. It has no flat faces, no edges, and no corners. Think of a football or a marble. Spheres can roll very easily, but they are hard to stack.
A cylinder is a 3D shape that has two flat, round ends and a curved side. Think of a tin of beans or a battery. Cylinders can roll on their curved side, and they can also stack on their flat ends.
A cone is a 3D shape that has one flat, round base and a curved side that comes to a point at the top. Think of an ice cream cone or a party hat. Cones can roll on their curved side, but they are tricky to stack.
Key facts to remember
- 13D shapes take up space and have length, width, and height.
- 2Some 3D shapes have flat faces, like a cube and a cuboid.
- 3Some 3D shapes have curved surfaces, like a sphere, cylinder, and cone.
- 4Shapes with flat faces can usually be stacked.
- 5Shapes with curved surfaces can usually roll.
- 6A cube has 6 square faces.
- 7A cuboid has 6 rectangular faces (or a mix of square and rectangular faces).
- 8A sphere is perfectly round and has no flat faces.
- 9A cylinder has two flat, round ends and one curved side.
- 10A cone has one flat, round base and a curved side that meets at a point.
Worked examples
Example 1
Look at the picture of a ball. Which 3D shape is a ball?
Answer
A ball is a sphere.
Spheres are great for rolling!
Example 2
Which of these shapes can you stack easily: a cube, a sphere, or a cylinder?
Answer
A cube and a cylinder can be stacked easily. A sphere is difficult to stack.
Shapes with flat faces or flat ends are good for stacking.
Example 3
A present box looks like which 3D shape?
Answer
A present box looks like a cuboid (or sometimes a cube if all sides are square).
Many everyday objects are cuboids!
Common mistakes
- ✗Confusing 2D shapes (like a square or a circle) with 3D shapes (like a cube or a sphere).
- ✗Mixing up the names of similar shapes, such as calling a cuboid a cube when its faces are not all squares.
- ✗Forgetting the correct names for the shapes.
- ✗Thinking all shapes can roll or all shapes can stack.
Exam tips
- ★Look carefully at the shape of the object or picture.
- ★Try to remember a real-world object that looks like the shape to help you name it.
- ★Practice identifying shapes by touching and feeling actual 3D objects.
- ★Think about what the shape can do: can it roll? Can it stack? This helps you remember its properties.
Ready to practise?
Try a problem on this topic
Snap a photo or type a question — get step-by-step working instantly.