Free printable 3rd Grade worksheets for practicing 3D shapes

As mentioned before, 3D shapes matter for 3^rd graders for many reasons. First, 3D shapes are everywhere in the real world. They are part of our everyday life and environment.

So, by learning about 3D shapes, your young math learners will be able to understand how things are made and how they work. For example, they will be able to see how a cube can be used to make a dice or a Rubik's cube, how a cone can be used to make an ice cream cone or a traffic cone, how a cylinder can be used to make a soda can or a pipe, and so on.

Secondly, learning about 3D shapes helps 3^rd graders develop spatial reasoning skills. Spatial reasoning is important for many subjects in school, such as math, science, art, and engineering.

By learning about 3D shapes, 3^rd Grade students can solve problems involving geometry, measurement, symmetry, patterns, transformations, and more. They can also express their creativity and imagination by drawing and making 3D shapes.

As we said before, 3D shapes have three dimensions: length, width, and height. They are also called solid shapes because they have volume or space inside them. You can touch them and feel their surfaces.

To identify 3D shapes, look at their properties or characteristics. Some of the properties of 3D shapes are:

• The number of faces they have. A face is a flat surface of a 3D shape.
• The number of edges they have. An edge is where two faces meet.
• The number of vertices they have. A vertex is where three or more edges meet.
• The shape of their faces. Some faces can be squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, or other polygons.
• The type of their edges. Some edges can be straight or curved.
• The type of their vertices. Some vertices can be pointed or rounded.

For example, a cube has six faces that are all squares. It has twelve edges that are all straight. It has eight vertices that are all pointed. A sphere has one face that is curved all around. It has no edges or vertices.

Here are some examples of common 3D shapes and their properties:

One way to help 3^rd graders practice their 3D shapes skills is to count the number of faces, edges, and vertices of different 3D shapes. Visit Mathskills4kids.com and grasp the best strategies and tips for counting, identifying, and comparing 3D shapes:

To count the faces, edges, and vertices of a 3D shape, you can use these tips to teach kids:

• Ask them to look at the shape from different angles and perspectives. This can help them to see all the faces, edges, and vertices clearly.
• Ask them to use their fingers or a pencil to trace the faces, edges, and vertices. This can help them track what you have counted and avoid repeating or missing any.
• Encourage them to use a formula or a pattern to find the number of faces, edges, and vertices. For some 3D shapes, some formulas or patterns can help your students quickly find the number of faces, edges, and vertices.

  For example, for a cube, they can use the formula F = 6, E = 12, V = 8.

  For a prism, they can use the pattern F = B + 2, E = 3B, V = 2B, where B is the number of sides of the base polygon.

  Here are some examples of how to count the faces, edges, and vertices of some 3D shapes:

• A cube has six faces that are all squares. To count them, your students can look at each side of the cube and count one face for each side. They can also use the formula F = 6.

  A cube has twelve edges that are all straight. To count them, look at each corner of the cube and count two edges for each corner. They can also use the formula E = 12.

  A cube has eight vertices that are all pointed. To count them, they can look at each corner of the cube and count one vertex for each corner. You can also use the formula V = 8.

• A sphere has one face that is curved all around. To count it, tell your kids to look at the whole surface of the sphere and count one face for it. They can also use the formula F = 1.

  A sphere has no edges or vertices. To count them, kids can look at the sphere’s surface and see no lines or points. They can also use the formulas E = 0 and V = 0.

• A cone has two faces: one that is a circle and one that is a triangle. To count them, your Grade 3 students can look at the cone’s base and side and count one face for each. They can also use the formula F = 2.

  A cone has one curved edge. To count it, kids can look at the rim of the base of the cone and count one edge for it. They can also use the formula E = 1.

  A cone has one vertex that is pointed. To count it, they can look at the tip of the cone and count one vertex for it. They can also use the formula V = 1.

Another way to help 3d graders practice their 3D shapes skills is to draw them on paper or a computer. Drawing 3D shapes can help children visualize them better and express their creativity.

To draw 3D shapes, your 3^rd graders can use these tips:

• Use basic shapes as building blocks. They can start by drawing simple shapes like squares, circles, triangles, or polygons and then add details to make them look like 3D shapes.
• Use shading and shadows to create depth and perspective. 3^rd graders can use different shades of color or strokes to make some parts of the shape look darker or lighter. This can help them to create an illusion of depth and perspective.
• Also, kids can use dotted or dashed lines to show hidden parts of the shape. They can use dotted or dashed lines to show parts of the shape that are behind other parts or not visible from your point of view.
• Use labels or symbols to indicate the properties of the shape. Kids can use labels or symbols to show the number of faces, edges, or vertices of the shape or to show the shape of their faces.

  Here are some examples of how to draw some 3D shapes:

• To draw a cube, start by drawing two squares that are slightly offset from each other. Then connect their corresponding corners with straight lines to form a cube shape. You can shade some parts of the cube to make it look more realistic. You can also label their faces with numbers or letters to show their properties.
• To draw a sphere, start by drawing a circle on paper or a computer screen. Then shade it with different colors or strokes to make it look more spherical. You can also add a shadow below it to make it look more realistic.
• To draw a cone, draw a circle on paper or a computer screen. Then draw a triangle above it with its base touching the circle and its vertex pointing up. Then erase or hide part of the circle inside the triangle to form a cone shape. You can shade some parts of the cone to make it look more realistic.

Apart from using free printable 3rd Grade worksheets for practicing 3D shapes, learning about 3D shapes can be fun and engaging with hands-on activities. Here are some ideas and fun activities that students can practice and reinforce their 3D shapes skills and have fun at the same time:

• Shape Hunt: Students can go on a scavenger hunt around the classroom or their home and look for objects that match different 3D shapes. They can use a checklist or a bingo card to keep track of the shapes they find and compare them with their classmates or family members.
• Shape Sort: Students can sort various objects into groups based on their 3D shapes. They can use containers, baskets, or boxes to separate the objects by shape and label them with the shape’s name. They can also sort the objects by other criteria, such as color, size, or function.
• Shape Model: Students can use clay, playdough, or other materials to create models of 3D shapes. They can use tools such as toothpicks, straws, or pipe cleaners to make the edges and vertices of the shapes. They can also decorate their models with stickers, beads, or other items to make them more colorful and creative.
• Shape Puzzle: Students can cut out pictures of 3D shapes from magazines, newspapers, or online sources and glue them onto cardboard or paper. They can then cut the shapes along the edges and mix them up. They can challenge themselves or their peers to assemble the puzzle pieces and name the shapes they see.
• Shape Game: Students can play games that involve 3D shapes, such as memory, matching, or bingo. They can use cards, dice, or spinners to generate random shapes and try to find their pairs, match them with their names or properties, or mark them on their bingo cards. They can also make up their rules and variations to make the games more fun and challenging.

These are just some activities students can do to practice their 3D shapes skills. There are many more possibilities that students can explore and invent on their own. The key is to make learning about 3D shapes enjoyable and meaningful for 3rd graders.

One of the reasons why learning about 3D shapes is important for 3rd graders is because they are everywhere in the real world. Recognizing and understanding 3D shapes can help students appreciate the beauty and diversity of nature and human-made objects. It can also help them solve problems and make decisions in everyday life.

Here are some examples of 3D shapes students might see in the real world:

• Sphere: A sphere is round with no faces, edges, or vertices. It is the same shape as a ball, a globe, a bubble, or an orange.
• Cube: A cube is a shape that has six square faces, twelve edges, and eight vertices. It is the same shape as a dice, a Rubik's cube, a sugar cube, or an ice cube.
• Cylinder: A cylinder is a shape that has two circular faces and one curved face. It has no vertices and two edges. It is the same shape as a soda can, a toilet paper roll, a candle, or a drum.
• Cone: A cone is a shape that has one circular face and one curved face. It has one vertex and one edge. It is the same shape as an ice cream cone, a party hat, a traffic cone, or a megaphone.
• Pyramid: A pyramid is a shape that has one polygonal face (usually a square) and four triangular faces. It has five vertices and eight edges. It is the same shape as the Egyptian pyramids, a tent, a cheese wedge, or a roof.
• Prism: A prism is a shape that has two polygonal faces (usually rectangles) and several rectangular faces. It has as many vertices and edges as its base polygon has sides. It is the same shape as a box, a book, a brick, or a prism.

These are just some examples of 3D shapes students might encounter in the real world. There are many more examples that students can discover and explore by observing their surroundings and using their imagination.