3 Dimensional

Shapes
A Kindergarten Constructivist Unit in Math
By Nicole Zuge

Context
Math Kindergarten
Time Needed: 12 Days
Materials Needed: Wooden 3D shape models, math journals, poster
board, pictures of 3D shapes, tooth picks, mini marshmallows, play
dough, activity sheets: shape sort, 3D Mystery Bag Shape activity
sheet, Shape and Attribute Matching activity sheet, 3D Shapes
book, recording mats for play dough activity
Objective: Students will learn to identify, describe the attributes of,
and create the 3 Dimensional shapes

Wisconsin Educator Standards

1. Teachers know the subjects they are
teaching.
3. Teachers understand that children learn
differently.
7. Teachers are able to plan different kinds
of lessons.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.A.1-Describe objects in the environment using names of
shapes

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.A.2 -Correctly name shapes regardless of their

orientations or overall size.

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.A.3-Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a

plane, "flat") or three-dimensional ("solid").

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.B.4-Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional

shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe
their similarities, differences, and parts.

CCSS.Math.Content.K.G.B.5-Model shapes in the world by building shapes from

components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.

Language Arts
Reading: Students will read the 3D Shapes Poem, Students will listen to and help to read Shapes by

Sara Pistoia (MathBooks ebook), Students will create and read their own 3D Shapes book, Students will
write and read their own 3D Mystery Bag Shape pages.
Writing: Students will write their own 3D Mystery Bag Shape pages, Students will write and complete
their own 3D Shapes book, Students will make 4 entries in their math journals describing the attributes
of each of the 3D shapes and given an example from the environment for each of the shapes.
Speaking: Students will describe the 3D item examples the brought from home as they place them in the
3D shape museum, students will describe and defend verbally to the teacher why they placed each of the
shapes into categories they did for the Shape Sort.
Viewing: Students will view the objects placed into the Shape Museum by each classmate, Students will
view and touch the 3D wooden shapes as they listen to the attributes being described by the teacher.
Producing: Students will create each of the 3D shapes using play dough on their work/recording mats,
Students will create a 3D cube using marshmallows and toothpicks.

Activities
Day 1:

Teacher introduces each of the 3D shapes using

the wooden models: vocabulary introduction-writing the
names of each of the shapes as the shapes are passed
around for students to touch and explore. (View)
Teacher reads the ebook Shapes by Sara Pistoia on the
Smartboard (Reading/Shared Reading)
Students practice reading the poem Shapes. (Reading)

Activities
Day 2 : As a modeled writing activity, students will help to create a poster
teaching the attributes of the Cube and give examples from the environment.
Students will review the information by making a page in their math
journals, writing the attributes of the Cube and drawing an example of a
Cube as an object in the environment. (Writing) Students will read their
journal entry to a friend. (Speaking)

The journal entries will be viewed by the teacher as a formative assessment.

Activities
Day 3:

As a modeled writing activity, students will help to create a poster

teaching the attributes of the Sphere and give examples from the
environment. Students will review the information by making a page in their
math journals, writing the attributes of the Sphere and drawing an example
of a Sphere as an object in the environment. (Writing) Students will read
their journal entry to a friend. (Speaking)

The journal entries will be viewed by the teacher as a formative assessment.

Activities
Day 4: As a modeled writing activity, students will help to create a
poster teaching the attributes of the Cylinder and give examples from the
environment. Students will review the information by making a page in
their math journals, writing the attributes of the Cylinder and drawing an
example of a Cylinder as an object in the environment. (Writing) Students
will read their journal entry to a friend. (Speaking)

The teacher will view the journal entries as a formative assessment.

Activities
Day 5: As a modeled writing activity, students will help to create a
poster teaching the attributes of the Cone and give examples from the
environment. Students will review the information by making a page in
their math journals, writing the attributes of the Cone and drawing an
example of a Cone as an object in the environment. (Writing) Students
will read their journal entry to a friend. (Speaking)

The teacher will view the journal entries as a formative assessment.

Activities
Day 6: Students will use toothpicks and mini marshmallows to build a cube.

(Producing)
Students will describe their cube, naming the number of faces, edges, and corners.
(Speaking)

Day 7:

Students will create models of each of the 3D

shapes using and place the models on their
recording mat. (Producing)

Students will describe each of their shapes, naming the number of faces, edges and
corners. (Speaking)

Activities
Day 8: Students bring objects from home that are one of the four 3D
shapes weve been studying. Each student places their shape into the
3D shape museum under the appropriate label (cube, sphere, cylinder,
cone) and describes which shape they have brought. (Viewing,
Speaking)

Day 9:

Students complete the shape matching sheet

by reading the attributes, matching the correct
3D shape to the attributes and writing the name of the shape.
(Writing, Reading)
The teacher collects this as a summative assessment.

Activities
Day 10: Students create a 3-D Shapes book, writing
the names of each of the shapes on a page and drawing an
example of that shape from the environment. (Writing,
Producing)

Activities
Day 11: Students complete a 3D Mystery Bag Shape
packet for one of the 3D shapes. The student writes at
least 2 describing attributes of a 3D shape on the first
page and then reveals what the shape is by drawing it on
the second page. In pairs the students read each others
clues and figure out which shape they are describing.
(Reading, Writing)

The teacher will collect this as a summative assessment.

Activities
Day 12: Students will complete a sorting activity, sorting
pictures of shapes into 2 given categories: 2 Dimensional
Shapes, or 3 Dimensional Shapes.
The teacher will collect this as a summative assessment.

Assessments
Formative Assessments:

Days 2, 3, 4, 5 Journal

Entries

Summative Assessments: Day 9 Shape and

Attribute Matching Activity, Day 11 3D Mystery Bag
Shape activity, Day 12 sorting activity.