Math Project: Geometric Shapes

Geometric Shapes: Here you will find a list of different geometric shapes, their definitions and examples, to help you identify a range of 2d and 3d shapes.

Simple shapes in Maths can often be classified into basic geometric objects such as a point, a line, a curve, a plane, a plane figure (e.g. square or circle), or a solid figure (e.g. cube or sphere).

List of Geometric Shapes (2d Shapes / Flat Shapes)

Here are common 2d geometric shapes – Circle, Oval, Triangle, Square, Rectangle, Rhombus (Diamond)

Squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, ovals are called flat shapes or plane shapes.

• Square: A square has 4 sides and 4 corners. All sides are of equal length.
• A rectangle has 4 sides and 4 corners. The opposite sides are of equal length.
• A Triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners. The three sides of a triangle can be of the same length or of different lengths.
• A Circle has 1 curved side and zero corners.
• An Oval has 1 curved side and zero corners

List of Geometrics Shapes (3D Shapes / Solid Shapes)

Here are common 3d shapes – Cube, Cuboid, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Pyramid, Prism

• A cube is a solid shape with 6 faces and, 8 vertices (corners) and 12 edges. If a pencil is run along the edge of a cube, we get a square. A square has all sides equal so all the faces of a cube are equal to each other.

• A cuboid is a solid shape with 6 faces and, 8 vertices (corners) and 12 edges. If a pencil is run along the edge of a cuboid, we get a rectangle.

  So what is the difference between a cube and a cuboid?

  All the faces of a cuboid need not be equal to each other. But if they are equal, then the cuboid will be known as a cube.

• A Sphere is a solid shape with 1 curved face, zero edges and zero vertices.

  The earth we live in has the shape of a sphere.

• A Cylinder is a solid shape with 1 curved face, 2 flat faces, and zero vertices. If a pencil is run along the flat surface of a cylinder, we get a circle.
• A Cone is a solid shape with 1 curved face, 1 flat face, and 1 vertex.

Tracing the Outline

• If a pencil is run along the edge of a cube, we get a square
• If a pencil is run along the edge of a cuboid, we get a rectangle.
• If a pencil is run along the flat face of a cylinder, we get a circle.
• If a pencil is run along the top or bottom face of a prism, we get a triangle.

Rolling Down a Slope

This is another concept that will make it easy for children to understand more about the various shapes. So which object do you think will roll down a slope? Let’s check out.

Cube: If a cube is placed on a slight slope, will it roll down the surface?
No. It will not because a cube has a flat face.

Cuboid: Will a cuboid roll down the surface?
No. It will not because a cuboid also has a flat face.

Sphere: If a sphere is placed on a slight slope, will it roll down the surface?
Yes, it will. This is because a sphere has a curved face.

Cylinder: If a sphere is placed on its side on a slight slope, will it roll down the surface?
Yes, it will. This is because it will roll down on its curved face.

But what if the cylinder is made to stand on its fat face? Will it still roll down?
No, it will not. This is because, in this position, it stands on a flat face.

Cone: If a cone is placed on its curved face on a slight slope, will it roll down the surface?
Yes, it will roll down on its curved face (but it will stop rolling after some time when the flat face faces downwards)

School Projects on Shapes

These activities integrates Maths with Art education.

Make your own Geoboard

You can learn shapes by making your own geoboard using thumb tacks and cardboard. Push the thumb tacks in the cardboard in neat rows and columns to form a grid.

Now you can use rubber bands to make different shapes on the geobaord.

Make a 3-D Star

• Draw the shape of star on a card paper.
• Cut out the star with the help of an elder. Place the cut out of the star on another card paper and run the pencil tip along its edges to get one more star.
• Cut through the top half and bottom half of the two stars.
• Slip both the cut-outs into each other.

One more project

1) Stick 5 pictures of solid shapes (3 D) that are used in day-to-day life. Name the solid shapes
2) Using flat shapes (2D) make 5 different patterns
Make booklet of above activity.

 

Collage of 2D/3D shapes sent to us by parents

 

Videos on How to Make Geometric Shapes

Watch: How to Make 3-D Shapes

Watch: How to make a Cylinder out of a paper

Watch: How to make Prism from a Square.

Watch: Mathematics — Learn about Solid Shapes