Count Faces on 3D Shapes

3D (3-dimensional) shapes mean that they have a length, a width, and a height. 

 

For the 3D shapes, we should know how many faces, vertices and edges they have. For this activity, we will be looking at how many faces different 3D shapes have. 

 

Let's have a look. 

 

One face:

Here, we have a sphere, which has one face wrapped around the whole shape. 

 

 

 

Two faces:

A cone has two faces. One circle face at the bottom and a large face wrapped around the rest of the shape. 

 

   

 

Three faces:

A cylinder has three faces. It has two circle faces at the top and the bottom of the shape with a third face wrapped around the middle. 

 

  

 

Four faces:

A triangular-based pyramid has four faces. It has four triangle-shaped faces. 

This can also be called a tetrahedron. 

 

   

 

Five faces:

Two 3D shapes have five faces. 

 

First, we have the square-based pyramid. This has a square face at the base and then triangle faces: 

 

  

 

Then, we have a triangular prism. This has a triangle face at either end and then three rectangular faces joining them together. 

 

  

 

Six faces:

We also have two 3D shapes with six faces.

There is the 3D square which is a cube. 

A cube is made up of six square faces that are all equal in size: 

 

  

 

 Finally, we have the cuboid and this is the 3D rectangle. 

It is made of square and rectangular faces.

It can be two squares at either end with four rectangular faces or it could be six rectangle faces. 

 

   

 

Ok, that's all the 3D shapes and all their faces!

 

Shall we have a go at some questions now?