Mathematics / Year 3 / Measurement and Geometry / Shape

Curriculum content descriptions

Make models of three-dimensional objects and describe key features (ACMMG063)

Elaborations
  • exploring the creation of three-dimensional objects using origami, including prisms and pyramids
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Solids (Geometry)

Interactive

Face painter: finding faces 1

Identify polygons on a range of prisms and polyhedra such as a cube, square pyramid or triangular prism. Picture in your head all sides of a solid. Estimate how many faces the object has. Rotate it to see all of its faces. Paint each face of a given shape such as a triangle or rectangle.

Online

reSolve: Reasoning With 3D Objects

This sequence of lessons explores symmetry and three dimensional objects. Students interpret and represent three-dimensional objects in two dimensions and apply their knowledge of transformations to show congruency or difference between objects. The lessons are outlined in detail including curriculum links, vocabulary, ...

Video

Mixed Up Maths, Ep 13: Shapes glorious shapes

Did you know that not all pyramids have a square base? Investigate the bases and faces of some pyramids. Travel around the world as we view some famous structures. First stop, we're in search of a building that is a rectangular prism. Find out which world famous building is a pentagonal prism. See what type of 3 dimensional ...

Video

Exploring mysterious shapes

Join QuanQuan and Jenny as they explore some weird and wonderful shapes! While watching this clip, think about the sides, edges, surfaces and volumes of the shapes that are demonstrated. How are these shapes different from regular 2D and 3D forms?

Interactive

Solids

An interactive tutorial about types of solids and the components of simple solids.

Text

Pattern Blocks - Calculate

This activity uses pattern blocks to explore patterns and the relationship between numbers. Students use the blocks to create and describe other shapes and since the blocks are relational they can be used for other investigations. For example, turn the blocks into units – if the triangle is one what is the value of the hexagon?

Text

Skeleton Shapes

This resource is a web page containing a practical task to model 3-D objects. The task suggests the use of straws and modelling clay or similar material to create a model of firstly a cube and next other 3-D objects. A printable resource is also available to support the task. This resource is an activity from the NRICH website.

Interactive

How does your garden grow?

This Stage 2 resource grew from a conversation between young students questioning why they could still buy grapes if they were out of season. This wondering led to a discussion around when we grow certain fruit and vegetables. The original stimulus was extended to cover planting for the seasons and factors that influence ...

Downloadable

First steps in Mathematics: Space – Diagnostic tasks

A collection of diagnostic tasks designed to use with students to assess their understanding of space-related concepts in mathematics.

Downloadable

Geometry: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of geometric reasoning. The resource demonstrates examples of relevant teaching strategies, investigations, activity plans and connected concepts in geometry including teaching and cultural implications.

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Space

This guide supports teachers to develop students’ geometric understandings.

Downloadable

Categorisation

Use this task to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of properties of shapes, and language they use when describing common features.

Text

Guess My Shape or Object - Calculate

The focus of this activity is to encourage and support students to describe two dimensional shapes and three dimensional objects according to their features or properties.

Online

Shapes and objects: Year 3 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 3 is for the topic of Shapes and objects. Students identify and describe 3D objects and their geometric properties. Students develop their understanding of an object’s properties by creating models using a variety of materials. They explore common objects in the environment and explain the ...

Video

MathXplosion, Ep 33: On the grid

Explore graphs, grids and mapping with a focus on reading and writing location data using coordinate geometry. Grids and maps illustrate the concepts of parallel/perpendicular lines (axes or labelled number lines), ordered pairs and intersection points.

Interactive

Rainforest: use a grid map

Use grid references to find places on a map. Follow instructions to find four locations. As you go, look up the meaning of tricky words.

Online

reSolve: Measurement - Jump!

In this sequence of two lessons, students investigate how far they can jump and explore the jumping distance of a range of animals. Students first estimate the distance they can jump, then undertake an investigation by jumping using a range of techniques. Class data is recorded and displayed and students compare their jumping ...

Online

reSolve: Authentic Problems: Bottle Flipping

This sequence of four lessons explores fractions and statistical reasoning through conducting a series of fair tests to answer the question 'What fraction of a bottle needs to be filled with water to be the best for bottle flipping?'. The lessons focus on building understanding of fractions and collecting, organising and ...

Video

For the Juniors: Drawing a floor plan

How do we know what a house will look like before it is built? Discover how house plans work by looking at the design of a house that Hugo's family is going to build. See how a floor plan shows the room layout. See drawings of what the house will look like from different views.

Interactive

Rainforest: use compass points

Use compass points and a scale to find places on a map. Understand abbreviations such as N, W, SW and E. Follow instructions to find four locations. As you go, look up the meaning of tricky words.