Go Math! Kindergarten, Chapter 10: Identify and Describe 3D Shapes
In this unit, your child moves from flat shapes to solid ones: spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones. Kindergartners sort them by whether they roll, stack, or slide, notice the flat faces on solid shapes, and find examples around the house. Following the flat-shapes unit, this shows how the two kinds of shapes connect, and it leads into comparing length, height, and weight next.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Chapter 10?
- Finding spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones in everyday objects and telling where they are with words like beside and in front of. Learn more: Spotting shapes and saying where things are
- Naming solid shapes whether they are big or small, standing up, or lying on their sides. Learn more: Naming shapes turned any which way
- Telling solid, or three-dimensional, shapes you can hold from flat, or two-dimensional, shapes drawn on paper. Learn more: Telling flat shapes from solid shapes
- Comparing solid shapes by their faces, the flat surfaces, and by which ones roll, stack, or slide. Learn more: Comparing shapes by their sides and corners
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
What shape is a slice of pizza?
- Triangle
- Circle
- Square
How you can help
- Gather a ball, a can, a box, and a party hat, and test together which ones roll, which stack, and which slide down a tilted book.
- Look for solid shapes in the kitchen, such as a can that is a cylinder or a block that is a cube, and let your child name each one.
- Trace around a box and a can on paper, then talk about how a solid shape's flat face makes a flat shape when you trace it.
Where kids can get stuck
- Calling a ball a circle or a box a square, using flat names for solid shapes.
- Thinking a can lying on its side is a different shape from a can standing up.
- Missing that a cone has a flat face, because they only look at its pointed top.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- three-dimensional
- Solid, like a block you can hold; also called 3D.
- sphere
- A solid shape that is perfectly round, like a ball.
- cube
- A solid shape with 6 square faces, like a block.
- cylinder
- A solid shape with two round, flat ends, like a can.
- cone
- A solid shape with a round, flat bottom and a point at the top.
- face
- A flat surface on a solid shape, like each side of a box.
- roll
- To turn over and over, the way a ball moves.
- stack
- To set one thing on top of another.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with solid shapes?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
Join the club
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Go Math! Kindergarten Chapter 10 cover?
Go Math! Kindergarten Chapter 10 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.