🔷 Shapes and Space
Class 3 Maths · Unit 8 of 12 · about 150 minutes
Explores 2D shapes by sides and corners, 3D objects by faces and edges, straight and curved lines, symmetry by folding, tiling a region without gaps, and describing position and views (left/right, top view, side view). Hands-on with paper, dot grids and everyday objects.
What your child will learn
- Students will be able to describe and classify 2D shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, circle) by number of sides and corners, and draw diagonals in a rectangle.
- Students will be able to identify 3D objects (cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere) around them and count faces and edges of a cube and cuboid.
- Students will be able to find and draw lines of symmetry by folding, and complete the other half of a symmetric picture.
- Students will be able to tile a region with a given shape leaving no gaps, and say which shapes tile and which do not.
- Students will be able to describe the position of objects using left, right, above, below, between, and match objects to their top and side views.
Lessons in this unit
- Sides, corners and diagonals: Count sides and corners of flat shapes, name shapes by their counts (3 = triangle, 4 = square or rectangle, 5 = pentagon, 6 = hexagon), and find the two diagonals of a rectangle by joining opposite corners.
- Solid shapes around us: Match everyday objects to cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone and sphere; count faces and edges of a cube and a cuboid; name the flat shape of each face.
- Fold and match: symmetry: Find lines of symmetry by folding paper shapes and pictures, decide whether a picture is symmetric, and complete the other half of a picture on a grid.
- Tiling without gaps: Cover a region with copies of one shape leaving no gaps and no overlaps; find which shapes tile (squares, rectangles, triangles, hexagons) and which do not (circles), and count tiles needed for a small rectangle.
- Where is it? Position and views: Describe position with left, right, above, below, between, near, far; read a simple classroom map; match an object to its top view and side view.
Key words
- side
- A straight edge of a flat shape.
- corner
- Where two sides meet in a point.
- diagonal
- A straight line joining two corners that are not next to each other.
- face / edge
- A flat surface of a solid object; the line where two faces meet.
- symmetry / line of symmetry
- A fold line where both halves match exactly.
- tiling
- Covering a floor with shapes so there are no gaps and no overlaps.
- top view / side view
- What you see when you look from above or from the side.
Help your child at home
What to watch for
- A shape turned on its point is a different shape (a tilted square is a 'diamond').
- Help: Turn the paper. Sides and corners do not change, so it is still a square.
- A box is a rectangle (2D name used for a 3D object).
- Help: The box is a cuboid. Each of its flat faces is a rectangle.
- Any line through the middle is a line of symmetry (e.g. a diagonal of a rectangle).
- Help: Fold along the diagonal: the corners stick out. Equal halves must also match exactly.
- Circles can tile if you push them close enough.
- Help: Gaps stay, however close. Tiling means zero gaps.
Try this at home
- Count sides and corners of a hexagon
- Count the faces of a matchbox
- Fold a paper butterfly
- Tile a rectangle with squares and count
Quick questions to ask aloud
- How many corners does a hexagon have?
Show answer
A hexagon has 6 sides. Each pair of sides meets at a corner, so it has 6 corners. - Which solid shape is a dice? (Cube / Cylinder / Sphere)
Show answer
Cube. A dice has 6 square faces of the same size. That is a cube. - True or false: The letter A has a line of symmetry down its middle.
Show answer
True. Fold A down the middle: the left and right halves match exactly.
Frequently asked questions
What will my child learn in "Shapes and Space" (Class 3 Maths)?
Your child will be able to: describe and classify 2D shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, circle) by number of sides and corners, and draw diagonals in a rectangle.; identify 3D objects (cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere) around them and count faces and edges of a cube and cuboid.; find and draw lines of symmetry by folding, and complete the other half of a symmetric picture.; tile a region with a given shape leaving no gaps, and say which shapes tile and which do not.; describe the position of objects using left, right, above, below, between, and match objects to their top and side views..
How does MangoMindz teach "Shapes and Space"?
In 5 short parts (Sides, corners and diagonals, Solid shapes around us, Fold and match: symmetry, Tiling without gaps, Where is it? Position and views). Each part has a picture-based lesson read aloud by Mango Teacher, a quick check, and a quiz built from common mistakes children make, with Mango, a study buddy, for questions.
How long does "Shapes and Space" take?
About 150 minutes in total, spread over 5 parts of 15–25 minutes each.
How can I help my child with "Shapes and Space" at home?
Work through a small example together, such as: Count sides and corners of a hexagon; Count the faces of a matchbox. Then ask a quick question aloud: How many corners does a hexagon have?
What mistakes do children often make in "Shapes and Space"?
A shape turned on its point is a different shape (a tilted square is a 'diamond'). Fix: Turn the paper. Sides and corners do not change, so it is still a square. A box is a rectangle (2D name used for a 3D object). Fix: The box is a cuboid. Each of its flat faces is a rectangle. Any line through the middle is a line of symmetry (e.g. a diagonal of a rectangle). Fix: Fold along the diagonal: the corners stick out. Equal halves must also match exactly.
Is "Shapes and Space" free on MangoMindz?
Yes. Every lesson part and quiz in "Shapes and Space" is free on MangoMindz, with no ads.