Geometric
Foam Shapes
Designed to meet these objectives:
Math
• Students will identify and describe 3-dimensional
geometric shapes.
• Students will sort and compare geometric shapes
by their attributes.
• Students will learn math vocabulary words.
You’ll find dozens of ways to use these geometric
foam shapes in your classroom! They’re perfect for
hands-on math practice at your learning center—
or for introducing early geometry and shape
recognition to your entire class. To get started, try
some of the engaging activities described in this
guide.
45
shapes
(5 each of
9 geometric
shapes)
Activities
Identifying 3-D Shapes
Take out one of each shape and set them on the
table or floor. Identify each shape for your students:
© 2005 Lakeshore
(800) 428-4414
www.lakeshorelearning.com
RA804
• Square prism (cube)
• Triangular prism
• Rectangular prism
• Hexagonal prism
Ages 3+
2
Geometric
Foam Shapes
Designed to meet these objectives:
Math
• Students will identify and describe 3-dimensional
geometric shapes.
• Students will sort and compare geometric shapes
by their attributes.
• Students will learn math vocabulary words.
You’ll find dozens of ways to use these geometric
foam shapes in your classroom! They’re perfect for
hands-on math practice at your learning center—
or for introducing early geometry and shape
recognition to your entire class. To get started, try
some of the engaging activities described in this
guide.
45
shapes
(5 each of
9 geometric
shapes)
Activities
Identifying 3-D Shapes
Take out one of each shape and set them on the
table or floor. Identify each shape for your students:
© 2005 Lakeshore
(800) 428-4414
www.lakeshorelearning.com
RA804
• Square prism (cube)
• Triangular prism
• Rectangular prism
• Hexagonal prism
Ages 3+
2
• Square pyramid
• Cylinder
• Sphere
• Triangular pyramid
• Cone
When students are familiar with the shapes, reinforce their knowledge with a game. Place the
shapes in a paper bag. Have each student take a
shape from the bag and try to name it. Students
who identify their shapes correctly can keep them;
students who make a mistake must return their
shapes to the bag. Play until all of the shapes have
been correctly identified.
Math Vocabulary
Discuss the attributes of each shape and explain the
meanings of geometry terms such as:
• Face (a flat side of a 3-dimensional shape)
• Edge (the line where 2 faces meet)
• Vertex (the point where 2 or more edges meet)
that has at least one square face” (square prism,
square pyramid, triangular prism), or “Find the
shape that has the most vertices” (hexagonal
prism).
• Prompt students to sort the shapes by various
attributes, such as shapes that roll and shapes that
don’t roll, or shapes that have at least one triangular
face and shapes that don’t have any.
3-D Shape Riddles
Play a shape riddle game to reinforce students’
knowledge of 3-D shapes. Give clues and challenge
students to identify which shape is being described.
For example:
1. One of my faces is a circle. I have 1 vertex. What
shape am I?
2. I am shaped like a ball. What shape am I?
3. Two of my faces are circles. What shape am I?
Invite volunteers to point out the faces, edges and
vertices on each of the shapes.
4. Four of my faces are triangles. I have a square
base. What shape am I?
Comparing and Sorting 3-D Shapes
• Guide students to explore and compare the
shapes by giving directions such as “Find a shape
5. I have 6 square faces. What shape am I?
3
6. Two of my faces are hexagons. What shape am I?
7. All 6 of my faces are rectangles. What shape am I?
8. All 4 of my faces are triangles. What shape am I?
• Square pyramid
• Cylinder
• Sphere
• Triangular pyramid
• Cone
When students are familiar with the shapes, reinforce their knowledge with a game. Place the
shapes in a paper bag. Have each student take a
shape from the bag and try to name it. Students
who identify their shapes correctly can keep them;
students who make a mistake must return their
shapes to the bag. Play until all of the shapes have
been correctly identified.
Math Vocabulary
Discuss the attributes of each shape and explain the
meanings of geometry terms such as:
• Face (a flat side of a 3-dimensional shape)
• Edge (the line where 2 faces meet)
• Vertex (the point where 2 or more edges meet)
that has at least one square face” (square prism,
square pyramid, triangular prism), or “Find the
shape that has the most vertices” (hexagonal
prism).
• Prompt students to sort the shapes by various
attributes, such as shapes that roll and shapes that
don’t roll, or shapes that have at least one triangular
face and shapes that don’t have any.
3-D Shape Riddles
Play a shape riddle game to reinforce students’
knowledge of 3-D shapes. Give clues and challenge
students to identify which shape is being described.
For example:
1. One of my faces is a circle. I have 1 vertex. What
shape am I?
2. I am shaped like a ball. What shape am I?
3. Two of my faces are circles. What shape am I?
Invite volunteers to point out the faces, edges and
vertices on each of the shapes.
4. Four of my faces are triangles. I have a square
base. What shape am I?
Comparing and Sorting 3-D Shapes
• Guide students to explore and compare the
shapes by giving directions such as “Find a shape
5. I have 6 square faces. What shape am I?
3
6. Two of my faces are hexagons. What shape am I?
7. All 6 of my faces are rectangles. What shape am I?
8. All 4 of my faces are triangles. What shape am I?