Kitchen Shape Hunt

After introducing the six major three-dimensional shapes to students -- sphere, cube, cone, rectangular prism, cylinder and triangular prism -- send them home with an assignment. Invite students and parents to search their kitchen for three-dimensional shapes and bring in their favorite find. The kitchen is full of three-dimensional shapes such as cereal boxes, ice cream cones, oatmeal containers and plastic storage. When students return to school with their items, sort them by what shape they represent. Compare and contrast the items discussing how each shape can look very different depending on the size and material. Allow students to hold the items and explain how they feel. Display the items in the classroom math center for further exploration.

What Can It Do?

Help students further understand properties of three-dimensional shapes by exploring which shapes can roll, stack and slide. Create a table on butcher paper by writing the six types of shapes on the left vertical side of the paper and the three actions (roll, stack and slide) across the top horizontal side of the paper. Gather students and discuss the shapes and actions. Encourage students to make predictions and discuss prior experiences. Test the first shape for each action and record the results. For example, a cube can stack and slide but not roll. A sphere can roll but cannot stack or slide. For each shape, have students identify and discuss why the action is possible or not possible. For example, a cylinder can do all three because it has characteristics of both a sphere and a rectangular prism. A cube cannot roll because it does not have any rounded sides. Continue the activity until the chart is complete. If desired, create students an individual copy of the table and allow them to record results as well.

How Many?

Encourage students to independently explore three-dimensional shapes by having the class count how many edges, points and faces each shape has. Divide students into small groups at work tables. Place one example of each three-dimensional shape on each table. Photocopy and distribute a table for each student with the shapes down the left side of the paper and the properties (edges, points and faces) across the top side. Model how to count the edges, points and faces on a three-dimensional shape and complete one row of the table together. For example, a cube has 12 edges, eight points and six faces. A triangular prism has eight edges, five points and five faces. Allow students to complete the rest of the table by exploring the objects at their tables and writing the numbers in the table. Encourage peer cooperation and answer checking. Circulate the classroom providing guidance to students who are struggling with the definitions of edges, points and faces or are having difficulty counting. Once the class has completed the tables, gather students to compare answers. Review all six shapes and check the number of each property together. Lead student discussion by encouraging students to observe which shape has the most and least of each property.

Create a Shape

Challenge students to create three-dimensional shapes using play dough or modeling clay. Assign pairs of students a three-dimensional shape. Encourage students to work together to create the shape. Provide examples or guide students to find their own examples in the classroom. Remind students of the number of points, sides and faces each shape should have. Allow students to share their creations with other pairs. Discuss how different pairs constructed the same shape in different ways (size, color or orientation). Assign groups a new shape and repeat the activity.