Learning about three-dimensional shapes is a fun elementary school math activity that expands on the basic shapes children typically learn in preschool or kindergarten. You can color this worksheet, identify the shapes and insert this into a notebook for future reference.
Printing the Worksheet
To download the worksheet, click on the image and it will open in a new tab. From there you can print or download. For troubleshooting, see this guide to Adobe printables.
Teaching the Shapes
This worksheet is designed to help children recognize and label three-dimensional shapes. It includes:
- Cube
- Triangular prism
- Cuboid
- Square-based pyramid
- Triangular-based pyramid
- Cylinder
- Hexagonal prism
- Cone
- Sphere
Tips for Using the Worksheet
Depending on the child's age, you can use the worksheet in a few different ways:
- Have your child fill in the shape names underneath each shape. Then have her explain the characteristics to you verbally or on a separate sheet of paper. For example, ask how many sides there are, which two-dimensional shape it's similar to, and then have them compare and contrast similar shapes on the page.
- For younger children, you can use this as a coloring sheet and an introduction to the shapes. If your child is already familiar with the three-dimensional shapes but would have a difficult time filling in the names in the blanks, you could say something like, "Color the cube purple, then color the cone green," and check his work as he goes.
- Once the shapes are labeled and colored and have a scavenger hunt for items that have those shapes, using the worksheet as a guide.
Shapes in 3-D
Learning about the shapes on paper is just the beginning. Encourage your student to point out and identify shapes in the real world, so the names will stick with them over time. Practicing this way with the worksheet as a guide will also allow them to gain a new perspective on three-dimensional drawings and how those shapes look in real life.
