Stage 3 MathsEnglish Member

The Shape of the Lantern

Everyday story · Teaches: Naming 2D and 3D shapes and their properties (faces, edges, corners) · Featuring Emily

For the festival, Emily and Mama were making paper lanterns (paper lamps that hold a light). “First,” said Mama, “we cut the flat shapes.”

Emily cut a square (4 equal straight sides), a triangle (3 sides) and a circle (perfectly round). “These are 2D shapes (flat shapes, with only length and width),” said Mama.

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This story teaches

Naming 2D and 3D shapes and their properties (faces, edges, corners)

MathsEnglish

Answer guide, for grown-ups

Ask each question, then compare. A child’s own words are perfect as long as the idea is right.

1. What is the difference between a 2D and a 3D shape?

A 2D shape is flat, with only length and width, like a square or circle. A 3D shape is solid, takes up space and can be picked up, like a cube.

✓ Understood if the child says 2D is flat and 3D is solid or something you can hold.

2. How many faces, edges and corners does a cube have?

A cube has 6 flat faces, 12 edges and 8 corners.

✓ Understood if the child gives 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners.

3. Name a real object shaped like a sphere, and one like a cylinder.

For example, a ball is shaped like a sphere and a tin or can is shaped like a cylinder.

✓ Understood if the child names a sensible sphere object and a cylinder object.

4. Which flat 2D shapes did Emily fold to build the solid cube?

She folded flat squares to build the solid cube.

✓ Understood if the child says squares.

Maths Moment: One cube has 6 faces, so 2 cubes have 6 x 2 = 12 faces. One cube has 8 corners, so 2 cubes have 8 x 2 = 16 corners.

For parents, Cambridge curriculum

Mapped to these Cambridge Primary objectives. Open a framework to verify.

Maths

Stage 3 · Geometry, Shapes
Identify and describe 2D and 3D shapes, including the number of faces, edges and vertices (corners).
Verify in Cambridge Mathematics (0096) ↗

English

Stage 3 · Vocabulary
Learn and use precise words to describe and compare objects.
Verify in Cambridge English (0058) ↗