Lesson objective: Understand that 3D shapes can be categorized based on their number of sides, vertices/corners, and other measurable attributes.
Students bring prior knowledge of identifying 2D and 3D shapes as flat and solid. This prior knowledge is extended to categorizing 3D shapes by measurable attributes as students will identify each 3D shape and sort them based on multiple attributes. A conceptual challenge students may encounter is thinking 3D shapes are identified as 2D shapes (a square is a cube because a cube has the face of a square).
The concept is developed through work with 3D shape blocks, which will help students understand how many faces, edges, and vertices/corners each 3D shape has.
This work helps students deepen their understanding of numbers because students will be counting the number of sides, vertices/corners, and other measurable attributes each 3D shape has.
Students engage in Mathematical Practice 3 and 7 (Students look for similarities and differences between each 3D shape as they explore each 3D shape and also are able to present their argument and respond to arguments of others).
Key vocabulary:
- attributes
- base
- face
Special materials needed:
- 3D blocks