L2 Properties of 3-D Shapes

Working Without Worksheets – Year 2 Lesson: Properties of 3-D Shapes Deepen children’s understanding of 3-D shapes with this practical Working Without Worksheets lesson for Year 2 Geometry. Designed for classrooms that prioritise active, hands-on learning over worksheets, this pack helps pupils explore and describe the properties of 3-D shapes using real objects and clear mathematical language. The lesson begins with a recap of common 3-D shapes learned in Year 1, such as cubes, cuboids, spheres, cones, and pyramids. Pupils handle real 3-D shapes to explore their physical properties, learning the difference between faces, edges, and vertices, and discussing how curved surfaces differ from flat faces. In the main activity, children glue pictures of 3-D shapes into their maths books, naming each shape and writing sentences about its properties — for example: This is a cube. It has 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices. Children are encouraged to notice exceptions, such as shapes with curved surfaces or an apex, developing deeper reasoning and accurate mathematical vocabulary. The plenary challenges pupils to solve a reasoning problem (“I am thinking of a shape…”) to decide which 3-D shape could fit a description, reinforcing how careful, detailed explanations help identify shapes correctly. What’s Included in the Pack? ✔ Full teacher planning with objectives, activities, and plenary guidance ✔ Starter: recap and name common 3-D shapes from Year 1 ✔ Vocabulary focus: face, edge, vertex, curved surface, apex ✔ Practical task: handle 3-D shapes and count faces, edges, and vertices ✔ Independent activity: glue 3-D shape pictures and describe their properties ✔ Plenary: reasoning challenge – “I am thinking of a shape…” ✔ No worksheets—children record directly in their books Why Teachers Love This Resource: ✔ Makes 3-D shape learning tactile and engaging through real-life exploration ✔ Builds understanding of faces, edges, and vertices using concrete resources ✔ Fully aligned w