solid shapes (1)

Identifying and Naming 3D Shapes

Students will identify and classify cubes, spheres, cones, and cylinders, create structures, and use spatial reasoning to match shapes they encounter in their environment. Fun, hands-on learning!

Target Grade:

Lesson Overview

Identifying and Naming 3D Shapes

Ages 3-5

Students will identify and classify cubes, spheres, cones, and cylinders, create structures, and use spatial reasoning to match shapes they encounter in their environment. Fun, hands-on learning!
solid shapes (1)
Description

By the end of this unit, children will be able to:

  • identify and name basic solid shapes, such as cubes, spheres, cones, and cylinders.
  • sort and classify objects by their shape attributes, such as the number of faces, edges, or corners.
  • use solid shapes to create simple structures and designs, such as stacking cubes to make a tower or arranging cones in a pattern.
  • use spatial reasoning to identify and match solid shapes, such as finding a sphere that is the same size as a cube.
  • recognize and describe the solid shapes they see in their environment, such as the shapes of toys, household items, and natural objects.
  • use solid shapes to create representations of objects and ideas, such as using a cylinder to represent a tree trunk or a cone to represent a party hat.
  • Development Matters − Reception − Select, rotate and manipulate shapes to develop spatial reasoning skills.
  • Birth to 5 Matters − Range 6 − Investigates turning and flipping objects in order to make shapes fit and create models; predicting and visualising how they will look (spatial reasoning)
Last updated on: February 16, 2026

More Resources You’ll Love

doubling to 10 (1)
Doubling to 10
3d shapes in the environment
3D Shapes in the Environment
yesterday today tomorrow
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
representing numbers to 5
Representing Numbers to 5