TOPIC
3D
Shapes
Place
Value
25
1
Strand: Shape
Number
and Space
Strand unit: 3D
Place
Value
Shapes
Curriculum Objectives
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642
Identify and examine 3D shapes and explore relationships, including
octahedron (faces, edges and vertices).
Draw the nets of simple 3D shapes and construct the shapes.
Looking back: What the 5th class programme covered
1. Exploration of faces, edges and vertices of 3D shapes, including the tetrahedron.
2. Construction of 3D shapes from nets.
Maths skills used in this topic
1. Integrating and connecting: Make mathematical connections within mathematics itself,
throughout other subjects, and in applications of mathematics in practical everyday contexts.
2. Implementing: Implement suitable standard and non-standard procedures with a variety of
tools and manipulatives.
Concrete materials
Assortment of 3D shapes, lots of cubes, strips of paper
Vocabulary
Perspective, octahedron
Teaching points
The activities in this unit are best carried out with concrete materials which the children can see
and handle. If there are no sets available in school, the children may be able to bring in samples:
breakfast cereal boxes (cuboids), PE cones, etc.
Oral and mental activities
Questioning:
Have an assortment of 3D shapes on each table. Ask the children to examine a 3D shape and
answer the following questions: ‘How many edges has the shape?’, ‘How many vertices?’, ‘How
many faces?’ Revise tables using language of fractions, factors, product, etc.
Topic suggestions
1. The perspective exercises should give rise to exploration and investigation. If the models can
be built with cubes, all the better. It may take the children a little time to understand the task.
They must examine the model from one viewpoint at a time.
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2. For the cross-section activities, cut through an apple or orange, or show the children a tree
trunk that has been sawn through. It will be easier for them to understand the task. Annual
rings on a tree trunk might make for an interesting nature discussion.
Activity A
Examine the photographs
1. What 3D shapes can you see? (cube, pyramid, octahedron, sphere, cuboid, cone,
triangular prism, pentagonal prism, ovoid)
2. Describe the properties of the shapes. How many edges, faces, vertices?
3. Are the photographs perfect examples of these 3D shapes? (For example, a traffic cone
might have a collar on the bottom; a cuboid shaped box might have lifting handles, etc.)
4. Can you think of another real-world example of these 3D shapes? Which 3D shapes are
most useful? (e.g. cuboids build and stack easily) Which 3D shapes are seldom used?
Differentiation
Lower attainers:
Separate activity sheet
Higher attainers:
Separate activity sheet
Topic
Topic
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25
1. The Soma Cube Puzzle
1. Write the name of each shape:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
To solve the Soma cube, you will need 27 cubes of the same size. Fix them into 7 combinations
(f)
like you see in the picture. Six of the combinations are made of four cubes and the other is made
of three cubes.
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
Your task is to put the 7 combinations together to make a large cube. There are 240 ways of
solving this puzzle. One of them is shown here.
2. How many faces has each of these shapes?
(a) Cuboid
(b) Cube
(c) Square pyramid
(d) Octahedron
(e) Cone
(f) Cylinder
(g) Triangular pyramid
(h) Triangular prism
Can you find others?
3. (i) How many corners has each of the above shapes? _______
(ii) How many edges has each of the above shapes? _______
4. Draw each shape as it will be seen from 3 perspectives:
2. Imagine that the shapes shown are giant monuments in the desert. Look at the position of the sun
Head on (A), bird’s eye (B) and from the side (C):
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
Name: _______________________________________
Date: ___________________
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Page 170: 3D Shapes
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Name: _______________________________________
© Folens Photocopiables
Draw a line behind the triangle as shown. Join and shade.
© Folens Photocopiables
How many cubes are used to make each shape?
5. Draw a pyramid: Draw an isosceles triangle.
as it rises. Draw the shadows you would expect to see.
(a)
(b)
Date: ___________________
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Linkage
Shapes and Space: 2D shapes
Integration
Art: Construction
Maths at home/parental involvement
Find an example of 5 3D shapes at home and describe what each is used for. Try to find
unusual examples (perfume bottles, candles, drinking glasses, mobile phone, curtain pole, door
knob, paperweights, food containers and packages, bar of soap, alarm clock, etc.). Bring some
examples into school if possible.
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