Shapes and space, explained

Flat shapes, solid shapes and the angles at their corners. A shape is named by its sides and corners, a solid by its faces, and an angle by how far it opens. The pages below show what to look for, so a child can name a shape by counting rather than guessing.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between 2D and 3D shapes?

A 2D shape is flat, like a drawing on paper. It has length and width but no thickness. A 3D shape is solid, like a box or a ball, and it has thickness too.

Corners or vertices?

They are the same thing. Younger children usually say corners, and older ones learn the word vertex, or vertices for more than one.

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