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Shapes and patterns
Lesson 8 of 11

Building with solid shapes

Objective. Recognise cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones and say how they behave.

The key idea

Solid shapes with flat faces stack; curved shapes roll. A cube stacks, a sphere rolls, a cylinder does both depending on which way you turn it.

Worked example

Which shape rolls but can also stand still on a flat end?

Illustration showing 5 objects to count
  1. 1A sphere only rolls.
  2. 2A cube only stacks.
  3. 3A cylinder rolls on its side and stands on its circular end.

Answer: A cylinder

Practice

Each question comes with a picture and a listen button. Try it first, then reveal the answer.

Common mistake. Mixing up a circle (flat) with a sphere (solid).

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