Shape Explorers: Discovering 3D Shapes!
Lesson Description
Video Resource
Key Concepts
- Identifying cylinders, cones, pyramids, prisms and spheres
- Recognizing 3D shapes in everyday objects
- Understanding the basic properties of each shape (e.g., a sphere is round)
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to identify cylinders, cones, pyramids, prisms and spheres.
- Students will be able to name real-world examples of each shape.
- Students will be able to describe the basic properties of each shape.
Educator Instructions
- Introduction (5 mins)
Begin by asking students what they already know about shapes. Show them different 2D shapes (square, circle, triangle) and review those quickly. Then, introduce the idea of 3D shapes – shapes that take up space! - Video Time! (5 mins)
Play the '3D Shapes Song for Kids' video. Encourage students to sing along and pay attention to the different shapes and examples shown. - Shape Spotlight: Cylinders (5 mins)
After the video, focus on cylinders. Ask students to name things that look like cylinders (soda can, soup can, paper towel roll). Discuss how cylinders have two circle ends. - Shape Spotlight: Cones (5 mins)
Talk about cones. Where do we see cones? (Ice cream cones, traffic cones, party hats). Point out the circular base and the pointy top. - Shape Spotlight: Pyramids (5 mins)
Discuss pyramids. Mention the ancient Egyptians. Explain they have a polygon base and triangular faces that meet at a point. - Shape Spotlight: Prisms (5 mins)
Explain that prisms have a polygon base and edges that join at the verticies. They can be triangular or rectangular. Show examples like boxes or roofs. - Shape Spotlight: Spheres (5 mins)
Explain that spheres are round like planets and balls. They don't have a base. - Shape Hunt! (10 mins)
Have students look around the classroom for examples of the 3D shapes they've learned about. Encourage them to share what they find and identify the shape. - Wrap-up (5 mins)
Review all the shapes learned. Ask students what their favorite 3D shape is and why.
Interactive Exercises
- Shape Sorting
Provide students with a collection of objects (e.g., building blocks, balls, cans). Have them sort the objects into groups based on their 3D shape. - Shape Drawing
Have students draw pictures of things that are shaped like the 3D shapes they learned about. For example, they could draw an ice cream cone, a ball, or a box.
Discussion Questions
- What is a 3D shape?
- Can you name something in the classroom that is shaped like a cylinder?
- Where have you seen a cone before?
- What makes a sphere different from a circle?
- What is your favorite 3D shape and why?
Skills Developed
- Shape recognition
- Observation
- Classification
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1:
Which shape looks like a soda can?
Correct Answer: Cylinder
Question 2:
Which shape looks like an ice cream cone?
Correct Answer: Cone
Question 3:
Which shape is round like a ball?
Correct Answer: Sphere
Question 4:
Which shape did the Egyptians build?
Correct Answer: Pyramid
Question 5:
Which of these is a 3D shape?
Correct Answer: Cone
Question 6:
A party hat is shaped like a...
Correct Answer: Cone
Question 7:
A box is shaped like a...
Correct Answer: Prism
Question 8:
Which of these is NOT a 3D shape?
Correct Answer: Triangle
Question 9:
Planets in space are shaped like...
Correct Answer: Spheres
Question 10:
Which shape has a circle at the bottom and a point at the top?
Correct Answer: Cone
Fill in the Blank Questions
Question 1:
A can of soup is shaped like a ________.
Correct Answer: cylinder
Question 2:
An ice cream _________ is shaped like a cone.
Correct Answer: cone
Question 3:
The Earth is shaped like a _________.
Correct Answer: sphere
Question 4:
The ancient Egyptians built _________.
Correct Answer: pyramids
Question 5:
A box is shaped like a _________.
Correct Answer: prism
Question 6:
A ball is shaped like a ______.
Correct Answer: sphere
Question 7:
Traffic cones are shaped like a _________.
Correct Answer: cone
Question 8:
A round planet is shaped like a _________.
Correct Answer: sphere
Question 9:
A _________ has two circle faces.
Correct Answer: cylinder
Question 10:
A party hat looks like a _______.
Correct Answer: cone
Educational Standards
Teaching Materials
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