Geometry: Are the Shapes 2D or 3D? Worksheet

Have you ever noticed that some shapes look flat, whereas others look like they are popping up from the page?

2-dimensional (2-D) shapes are flat and can only be drawn on paper. They only have 2 measurements that you can take which are length and height.

3-dimensional (3-D) shapes are solid and can be picked up. These have 3 measurements that you can take, length, height and depth.

You should know the names of the following shapes. Most items around you are made up of 3D shapes, which ones can you see?

Is a CIRCLE 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional shape?

2-D

3-D

Can you identify the 3D shape below?

Cube

Circle

Sphere

Cone

Can you correctly categorise the shapes below?

Write your answer as either 2D or 3D.

Cube

Circle

Sphere

Cone

True or false, a CUBOID is a 2-dimensional shape?

True

False

Can you give the name of the shape below if it was in 2D?

Can you label the shape below?

Prism

Rectangular Prism

Triangular Prism

Hexagonal Prism

Triangle

Classify and name the 3D Shape below.

Rectangular Prism

Triangular Prism

Hexagonal Prism

Triangle

ANSWERS

Question 1

Is a CIRCLE 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional shape?

CORRECT ANSWER

2-D

EDDIE SAYS

A circle is a 2D shape. If you were to make a circle 2D it is called a sphere. Remember a 2D shape is much easier to draw than a 3D shape, this is a way to check which category it belongs to.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Can you identify the 3D shape below?

CORRECT ANSWER

Sphere

EDDIE SAYS

This is the 3D version of a circle and it is called a sphere! (Quite a hard word to pronounce correctly!) What sphere's can you see around you right now?

ANSWERS

Question 3

Can you correctly categorise the shapes below?

Write your answer as either 2D or 3D.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

How did you do? The only 3D shape was a cylinder. A cylinder is a common 3D shape, it could also be described as a tube. This is a good example of a cylinder. Remember apply the rule - if you can draw it in a simple way, it's probably a 2D shape.

ANSWERS

Question 4

True or false, a CUBOID is a 2-dimensional shape?

CORRECT ANSWER

False

EDDIE SAYS

The answer here is false! A cuboid is a 3D shape as it has height, length and depth that can be measured. Cuboids make up many storage containers in your house. Have a look around, can you see any cuboids from where you are?

ANSWERS

ANSWERS

Question 6

Can you complete the sentence below about a 3D shape?

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

Remember the difference between 2D and 3D in terms of measurement is that a 2D has two things you can measure (2 for 2D) and a 3D shape has 3! Have you seen the pattern here?

ANSWERS

Question 7

Complete the 2 questions below about an OCTAGON.

Give your answer to question 1 as a number, and your answer to question 2 as 2D or 3D.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

Did you answer in the way we suggested? It's really important to read questions carefully. Did you know that the name of a shape often gives a clue as to the number of sides that shape has? For example: Pent = 5 Hex = 6 Hept = 7 Oct = 8? Clever isn't it?

ANSWERS

Question 8

Can you give the name of the shape below if it was in 2D?

CORRECT ANSWER

semi circle
semi-circle

EDDIE SAYS

This is half of a sphere, but we know that a sphere is a 3D shape. So we need the 2D answer. The shape would be half of a circle and in maths terms, we call this a semi-circle. If you worked this out, well done!

ANSWERS

Question 9

Can you label the shape below?

Prism

CORRECT ANSWER

Triangular Prism

EDDIE SAYS

Hopefully, you can see from the complexity of this shape it is 3D! That means we can automatically discount the word 'triangle'. It is definitely a type of prism, so we need to look at the end and see what shape runs through this prism? Can you see the triangle at the end? This means that we've found the answer. It a triangular prism! Looks like a very famous Swiss chocolate bar!