Properties of 2-D & 3-D Figures
Cube It!
Students build spatial reasoning and visualization skills
as they create cube boxes using two-dimensional nets
they design.
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Materials
❉ cube nets, page 47
(enlarge, if possible)
❉ 1-cm grid paper, page 61
❉ pencils
❉ rulers
❉ scissors
❉ tape
1. Show students a square of paper and a cube made from
folded paper. Explain that when talking about the flat
surfaces of a three-dimensional figure, the term face is
used instead of side, and vertex (vertices, plural) is used to
describe a corner. (Side and corner are used in describing a
two-dimensional figure such as a square.) The place where
two faces come together is called an edge. Have students
identify the properties of each figure and record their
responses on a chart.
Square
Cube
Flat (2-D)
Solid (3-D)
1 side
6 faces
4 edges
12 edges
4 corners
8 vertices
length, width
length, width, height
Teaching Tips
❉ Give students a copy of
the 3-D Detectives Record
Sheet, page 50, and have
them fill in a section with
information about cubes.
❉ Mask the numbers on
the grid paper before
photocopying, if desired.
45
2. Give each student a copy of the net pattern page, scissors,
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
and tape. Explain that each pattern is called a net. Ask,
“How are the nets alike and different? Which nets do
you think will fold into a cube?” Have students share and
explain the reasons for their predictions, then cut out the
nets and test them. (Nets A and B work, C and D do not.)
3. Divide the class into groups and provide
multiple copies of the grid paper.
Challenge students to use rulers and
pencils to design nets that will fold into
cubes, and then test them out. Encourage
them to refer to the chart from step 1,
as well as the nets in step 2, and apply
what they learned about the properties of
a cube. Also encourage them to analyze
designs that do not work and think about
ways to adapt them.
4.Afterward, bring the class together and have students share
their discoveries. Have them sort their net designs into
two groups—designs that worked and designs that didn’t.
Encourage students to study the successful designs and
notice characteristics they share. What did they learn from
the nets that did not work?
5. Let students use their imaginations to turn their successful
net designs into a variety of creative projects. Enlarge and
copy the nets (or glue) onto heavyweight paper. Then invite
students to decorate them before assembly. See page 49
for ideas.
46
There are 11 possible net
designs that will fold up
to form cubes.
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
B
Cube Nets
D
A
C
47
Properties of 3-D Figures
Shapely Solids
Students compare two- and three-dimensional figures as
they make festive ornaments, fanciful creatures, and more.
Materials
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
❉ 3-D Detectives
Record Sheet,
page 50
❉ triangular pyramid
net, page 51
❉ triangular prism net,
page 52
❉ scissors
❉ tape or glue sticks
❉ craft materials
(shape stamps,
stickers, crayons,
markers, glitter
glue, recycled
gift wrap)
1. Give each student a copy of the net pages. Ask students to
identify and count the shapes on each. Can they predict the
solid figure that can be formed from each net?
2. Have students cut out each net along the solid lines, fold
inward along the dotted lines, then use tape or a glue stick to
affix the flaps to the inside of the figure. How did students’
predictions compare with each resulting solid? Tell students
the name of each figure: triangular pyramid (also called a
tetrahedron) and triangular prism.
48
Teaching Tip
If possible, copy or glue the
patterns onto heavyweight
paper to make them more
durable.
Name _____________________________________________________ Date ____________________________
3-D Detectives Record Sheet
Record what you observe about 3-D figures.
3. To help students focus on the properties of each figure, have
them fill in the record sheet. (Students might use pencils to
lightly mark each vertex and edge as they count to help them
keep track.) Afterward, have students share the data on their
record sheets. Encourage students to make other observations
about each figure (types of angles, parallel lines, symmetry,
and so on). Also have them observe similarities and differences
between the two-dimensional figures on the nets and the threedimensional figures they made.
4.Give students additional copies of the net patterns and invite
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
them to transform them in decorative ways:
• Solid Shape Sculptures:
Glue one or more nets
to the back of recycled
gift wrap. Fold and
assemble. Then glue two
or more figures together
to make an ornament or
sculpture.
Name of Solid Figure:
Name of Solid Figure:
number and shape
of faces:
number and shape
of faces:
number of edges
number of edges
number of vertices
(corners)
number of vertices
(corners)
Name of Solid Figure:
Name of Solid Figure:
number and shape
of faces:
number and shape
of faces:
number of edges
number of edges
number of vertices
(corners)
50
number of vertices
(corners)
Quick & Easy Math Art © 2011 by Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Teaching Tip
Students can use the
other two sections on
the record sheet to fill
in information about
a cube (see page 45)
and another solid they
might investigate.
• Gift Boxes: Decorate a net using shape
stamps, stickers, crayons or markers, or
glitter glue. Assemble, then put a small
gift inside, and seal closed with a sticker,
a paper sleeve, or ribbon.
• Feathered Friends & More:
Use craft items to transform
the solid figures into birds,
fish, and other creatures.
49
Name _____________________________________________________ Date ____________________________
3-D Detectives Record Sheet
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Record what you observe about 3-D figures.
50
Name of Solid Figure:
Name of Solid Figure:
number and shape
of faces
number and shape
of faces
number of edges
number of edges
number of vertices
(corners)
number of vertices
(corners)
Name of Solid Figure:
Name of Solid Figure:
number and shape
of faces
number and shape
of faces
number of edges
number of edges
number of vertices
(corners)
number of vertices
(corners)
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Triangular Pyramid Net
51
Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Triangular Prism Net
52
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1-cm grid paper, page 61 •
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Quick & Easy Math Art © Deborah Schecter, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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