Guided Practice: 2D and 3D Shapes
Work through these practice problems with step-by-step hints to build your shape skills.
Review: Key Shape Facts
Before we practice, let's remember the important facts about shapes:
2D Shapes (Flat Shapes)
- Circle: Round with no corners or sides
- Triangle: 3 sides and 3 corners
- Square: 4 equal sides and 4 corners
- Rectangle: 4 sides (2 long, 2 short) and 4 corners
- Hexagon: 6 sides and 6 corners
3D Shapes (Solid Shapes)
- Sphere: Like a ball - round all over
- Cube: Like a block - 6 square faces
- Cylinder: Like a can - 2 circle faces and a curved side
- Cone: Like an ice cream cone - 1 circle face and a point
- Rectangular Prism: Like a box - 6 rectangle faces
Guided Practice Problems
Try each problem. Click "Show Hint" if you need help, then check your answer.
Problem 1: Counting Sides
A stop sign has 8 sides. What shape is a stop sign?
Show Hint
Count the sides! A shape with 8 sides is called an octagon. "Octa" means 8.
Show Answer
Octagon - A stop sign is an octagon because it has 8 sides and 8 corners.
Problem 2: Identifying Faces
Look at a tissue box. What 3D shape is it? How many faces does it have?
Show Hint
A tissue box has flat rectangle faces on all sides. Count the top, bottom, front, back, and both sides.
Show Answer
Rectangular Prism with 6 faces - The tissue box has 6 rectangle faces: top, bottom, front, back, left side, right side.
Problem 3: Shape Sorting
Which of these can roll: a cube, a sphere, or a rectangular prism?
Show Hint
Think about which shapes have flat faces only and which have curved surfaces. Flat faces don't roll!
Show Answer
Sphere - Only the sphere can roll because it has a curved surface. The cube and rectangular prism have flat faces that keep them from rolling.
Problem 4: Corners Count
How many corners does a triangle have? What about a rectangle?
Show Hint
Corners are where two sides meet. The number of corners equals the number of sides in these shapes.
Show Answer
Triangle: 3 corners. Rectangle: 4 corners. A triangle has 3 sides so 3 corners. A rectangle has 4 sides so 4 corners.
Problem 5: Real World Shapes
Name the shape of a basketball.
Show Hint
Is a basketball flat or solid? Is it round all over or does it have corners?
Show Answer
Sphere - A basketball is a sphere because it is round all over with no flat faces, edges, or corners.
Problem 6: Shape Comparison
What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?
Show Hint
Both have 4 sides and 4 corners. Look at the length of the sides - are they the same or different?
Show Answer
A square has 4 equal sides. A rectangle has 2 pairs of equal sides (2 long and 2 short). Actually, a square is a special kind of rectangle!
Problem 7: 3D Shape Faces
A soup can is shaped like a cylinder. How many flat faces does it have?
Show Hint
Think about the top and bottom of the can. Are they flat or curved?
Show Answer
2 flat faces - A cylinder has 2 flat circle faces (top and bottom) and 1 curved surface around the side.
Problem 8: Shape Hunt
Look at a door. What 2D shape is it? Now think of the whole door including its thickness - what 3D shape is it?
Show Hint
The front of a door is a flat shape with 4 sides. When you add thickness, it becomes a solid shape.
Show Answer
2D: Rectangle. 3D: Rectangular Prism. The front of a door is a rectangle. The whole door with its thickness is a rectangular prism.
Problem 9: Stacking Shapes
Which shapes can be stacked in a tower: spheres, cubes, or cones?
Show Hint
Think about which shapes have flat faces that can sit on top of each other without rolling or sliding off.
Show Answer
Cubes stack best. Cubes have flat faces so they stack easily. Spheres roll away. Cones are tricky - they can stack point-down but are wobbly.
Problem 10: Shape Riddle
I am a 3D shape. I have 1 flat face that is a circle. I have 1 point at the top. I look like an ice cream cone. What am I?
Show Hint
This shape has a circle base and comes to a point. Think about party hats!
Show Answer
Cone - A cone has 1 circular flat face, 1 curved surface, and 1 point (called the apex).
Problem 11: Edges and Corners
A cube has 6 faces. How many edges (where faces meet) does a cube have?
Show Hint
Pick up a block or box. Count where two faces meet - those are edges. Count carefully around the top, middle, and bottom.
Show Answer
12 edges - A cube has 12 edges: 4 on top, 4 on bottom, and 4 going up and down connecting them.
Problem 12: Shape Patterns
Complete the pattern: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, ___?
Show Hint
Look at which shape comes after square each time in the pattern.
Show Answer
Triangle - The pattern repeats: circle, square, triangle. After square comes triangle!
Check Your Understanding
After completing the practice problems, ask yourself:
- Can I name 2D shapes by counting their sides?
- Can I identify 3D shapes by their faces and features?
- Do I understand the difference between flat shapes and solid shapes?
- Can I find shapes in everyday objects around me?
If you answered "yes" to all of these, you're ready for word problems!
Next Steps
- Review any problems you found tricky
- Look for shapes around your home or classroom
- Move on to Word Problems to apply your shape knowledge