2-D and 3-D shapes: what children learn
Year 1 pupils learn to recognise and name common 2-D and 3-D shapes. 2-D shapes are flat, such as triangles, squares, rectangles and circles. 3-D shapes are solid, such as cubes, cuboids, spheres, cylinders, cones and pyramids.
In this game children match a short description to the shape's name. Each description uses simple features a child can see or feel, such as straight sides, corners, a point or a curved surface, so they learn what makes each shape different.
This topic covers the Year 1 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Geometry – properties of shapes): pupils should be taught to “recognise and name common 2-D and 3-D shapes”. Year 1 pupils are usually aged 5–6.
For families following US standards, the closest Common Core standard is K.G.A.2, which is taught in Kindergarten.
How to play
Pick a card on the left, then the card on the right that matches it. Each game has 6 pairs. Wrong matches are counted as mistakes, and you get three stars for a game with no mistakes.
Step by step
- Flat or solid?. First decide whether the shape is flat (2-D) or solid (3-D). A square is flat; a cube is solid.
- Count sides and corners. For flat shapes, count the straight sides and the corners. 3 sides is a triangle, 5 is a pentagon, 6 is a hexagon.
- Square or rectangle?. A square has 4 sides all the same length. A rectangle has 4 sides too, with 2 long sides and 2 short sides.
- Think of real objects. A ball is a sphere, a dice is a cube, a cereal box is a cuboid, a tin of beans is a cylinder and an ice-cream cone is a cone.
Worked examples
Example 1: Which shape is flat with 3 straight sides and 3 corners?
Working: Flat, 3 sides.
Answer: triangle
Example 2: Which shape is solid, like a tin of beans, with a circle at each end?
Working: Solid, curved, two circle ends.
Answer: cylinder
Example 3: Which solid shape has a circle at the bottom and a point at the top?
Working: Like an ice-cream cone.
Answer: cone
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Calling a cube a square. A square is flat. A cube is solid and has 6 square faces.
- Calling a sphere a circle. A circle is flat, like a drawing. A sphere is a solid ball.
- Thinking a rectangle stops being a rectangle when it is turned. Turn shapes around and show that the sides and corners stay the same.
Activities to try at home
- Go on a shape hunt at home or in the park and name the shapes you find.
- Build with boxes, tubes and balls and name each 3-D shape.
- Put a shape in a feely bag and describe it for someone to guess.
Ideas for the classroom
- Feely bag: pupils describe a hidden shape using its sides, corners or faces.
- Sort a set of shapes into flat and solid.
- Use printing with the faces of 3-D shapes to make 2-D shapes.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
What does 2-D mean?
2-D means two-dimensional: a flat shape with length and width. 3-D shapes also have depth, so they are solid.
Do children need to know faces and edges in Year 1?
Not yet. Year 1 is about recognising and naming shapes. Faces, edges and vertices are counted in Year 2.
Can it be played with a keyboard?
Yes. Tab to a card, press Enter to pick it, then pick its partner.