In the primary grades students learn plain shapes as well as "space shapes," or three-dimensional shapes. Keeping all the names of these shapes straight may be difficult. I find it helpful and fun to have very interactive projects as a way to learn the shape names. These projects are enjoyable for the students and allow them to learn and apply information about space shapes.

Students will:

1. Discover the plain shapes that make up space shapes
2. Match and stamp shapes together
3. Create their own space shapes
4. Describe space shapes
5. Apply what they know about space shapes to make a museum of shapes
6. Compare and contrast space shapes

Lesson 1: The Face of a Shape

Lesson 2: Making Space Shapes

Lesson 3: Space Shape Museum

Culminating Activity

The last lesson ends with a Venn Diagram (PDF) of space shapes. This lesson should allow the teacher to notice what the students have learned about the shapes. Students can compare the number of sides, corners, faces, or if the shape rolls or slides.

Supporting Books

Books and Resources for Teaching Geometry