Flat or Solid Slides Math Explorers Club
Flat or Solid?
Let's explore the classroom and discover shapes we can see, hold, and touch!
Lesson 1: Introduction to 3D Shapes
2D
3D
Flat Shapes are 2D
Pancake Flat!
Flat shapes are like drawings on paper. They are completely flat .
Can you pick it up?
No! You can only touch the paper it is drawn on.
Circle
Square
Triangle
Rectangle
Hold up your hand and make a flat hand like a pancake!
Solid Shapes are 3D
Pop Up & Fill Up!
🧊
Cubes
🏀
Spheres
🥫
Cylinders
Solid shapes are not flat! They are fat, they pop up, and they take up space.
Can you pick it up?
Yes! You can hold them, roll them, stack them, or slide them!
Make a fist with your hand! That's solid and fat, just like a 3D shape!
🏀
Meet the Sphere
Sounds like: "S-FEER"
A sphere is perfectly round. It has zero flat sides and zero corners.
Spheres are great at rolling!
Real-World Spheres:
⚽ Soccer Ball
🍊 Orange
🌍 Earth
Can you look around the classroom and spot a sphere right now?
🎁
Meet the Cube
Sounds like: "KYOOB"
A cube has 6 flat square faces . Every single face is exactly the same size!
Cubes are wonderful for stacking!
Real-World Cubes:
🎲 Game Die
🧊 Ice Cube
📦 Cardboard Box
Trace a square face in the air with your index finger!
🥫
Meet the Cylinder
Sounds like: "SILL-IN-DER"
A cylinder has a round, curved middle and 2 flat circle faces on the top and bottom.
Cylinders can roll AND slide!
Real-World Cylinders:
🥤 Soda Can
🧻 Paper Towel
🧪 Glue Stick
Can you tap the top of your desk like you're tapping the flat face of a cylinder?
🍦
Meet the Cone
Sounds like: "KOHN"
A cone has 1 flat circle face at the bottom, and curves up to a pointy tip.
Cones slide on their flat bottom, or spin!
Real-World Cones:
🍦 Ice Cream Cone
🎉 Party Hat
🚧 Traffic Cone
Pinch your fingers together to make a pointy tip like a cone!
Let's Play: Flat or Solid?
Classroom Challenge
If you see a FLAT (2D) shape... CLAP once! 👏
If you see a SOLID (3D) shape... STAND UP and stretch! 🙆♀️
⚽ Soccer Ball
Circle Drawing
🎲 Game Die
Square Drawing
Get ready for your sorting activity next! We are shape explorers!
Shape Sorting Mats Shape Sorting Mat
Is it Flat (2D) or Solid (3D)? Let's sort them!
Name: ______________________
Date: _______________________
FLAT (2D)
"Pancake Flat!"
Flat Draw
Place flat cards here
Glue or place 2D cards here
SOLID (3D)
"Pop Up & Fat!"
📦
Place solid cards here
Glue or place 3D cards here
Color and cut out the cards on page 2, then paste them in the correct section. Solid Shape Explorers • Day 1 Mat
Sorting Cards to Cut
Color the pictures, cut along the dashed lines, and sort them onto page 1!
Page 2 of 2
Card 1
Draw
Circle Drawing
Flat shape on paper
Card 2
⚽
Soccer Ball
Solid sphere that rolls
Card 3
Draw
Square Drawing
Flat shape on paper
Card 4
🎲
Game Die
Solid cube that stacks
Card 5
Draw
Triangle Drawing
Flat shape on paper
Card 6
🥫
Soup Can
Solid cylinder
Card 7
Draw
Rectangle Drawing
Flat shape on paper
Card 8
🎉
Party Hat
Solid cone with tip
Cut along dotted lines to create cards. Tip: Color cards before cutting! Solid Shape Explorers • Card Sheet
Flat or Solid Worksheet Flat or Solid?
Color the shapes. Circle the correct word for each item!
Name: ______________________
Date: _______________________
Part A: Circle "Flat" or "Solid"
Q1 ⚽
Soccer Ball
Can roll and bounce
FLAT
SOLID
Q2
Sticky Note
Drawing on paper
FLAT
SOLID
Q3 🥫
Soup Can
Has circle top and bottom
FLAT
SOLID
Q4
Triangle Drawing
Flat on the page
FLAT
SOLID
Part B: Be a Shape Designer!
Draw something FLAT (2D)
Example: A drawn square or circle
Draw something SOLID (3D)
Example: A ball, a box, or a can
Color your drawings when you are done! Good work, shape explorer! Solid Shape Explorers • Individual Practice
Flat or Solid Answer Key Teacher Answer Key
Flat or Solid? Key
Grading Guide for Lesson 1 Worksheet
Part A: Correct Circles
Q1 ⚽
Soccer Ball
Can roll and bounce
FLAT
✓ SOLID
Q2
Sticky Note
Drawing on paper
✓ FLAT
SOLID
Q3 🥫
Soup Can
Has circle top and bottom
FLAT
✓ SOLID
Q4
Triangle Drawing
Flat on the page
✓ FLAT
SOLID
Part B: Sample Submissions (Grading Guide)
Draw something FLAT (2D)
Student's Circle Drawing
Accept any 2D shape drawings
Draw something SOLID (3D)
🎁 Student's Gift Box
Accept any 3D real-world item
Award full points for clear efforts in drawing! Great work! Solid Shape Explorers Answer Key
Roll Stack Slide Slides Shape Explorers in Action
Roll, Stack, or Slide!
Let's become scientists! Today we will test 3D shapes to see how they move on our tables!
Lesson 2: Physical Properties of 3D Shapes
🏀 ➡️ 📦 🥞 🛹 🛷
How Do Shapes Move?
The Surface Secret!
🏀
Curved Surfaces
They are round and smooth. They love to ROLL !
📦
Flat Surfaces
They are straight and level. They love to STACK & SLIDE !
A shape moves depending on whether its sides are curved (round) or flat (straight) !
🔍 "Scientist Question: Can a shape have BOTH curved and flat sides? Let's find out!"
Rub your palms together—feel how flat they are? Now make your hand round like a ball!
🥎
Let's ROLL!
Round and Round!
To roll , an object needs a curved, round surface to turn over and over.
Which shapes roll?
Sphere: Rolls in every direction!Cylinder: Rolls when laid on its side!Cone: Rolls in a circle around its point!
⚽ ⚽ ⚽
Smooth and round curves make things roll!
Make a rolling motion with your arms right now!
🥞
Let's STACK!
Tower Power!
Top Cube
Middle Cube
Bottom Cube
Flat tops and flat bottoms stack beautifully!
To stack , an object needs a flat top AND a flat bottom to balance safely.
Which shapes stack?
Cube: Stacks perfectly into giant towers!Cylinder: Stacks flat-side to flat-side!Sphere: No! It rolls off immediately! ❌
Can you build a high hand-stacking tower with your partner?
🛹
Let's SLIDE!
Slippery Slide!
To slide , an object needs a flat bottom surface that stays flat on the table when you push it.
Which shapes slide?
Cube: Slides easily on any of its 6 flat faces!Cylinder: Slides when standing upright!
Roll Stack Slide Worksheet Roll, Stack, or Slide?
Be a scientist! Test your physical 3D shapes and check the boxes.
Name: ______________________
Date: _______________________
Scientist Mission:
Grab a real 3D shape block. Test if you can roll it down a ramp, stack another shape on top of it, or slide it across your desk. Draw a checkmark ✓ in the boxes if it works!
3D Shape Block
Can it ROLL? 🏀
Can it STACK? 🥞
Can it SLIDE? 🛹
🏀 Sphere
🎲 Cube
🥫 Cylinder
🎉 Cone
Scientist Discovery:
Which 3D shape was the superstar that could Roll, Stack, AND Slide? Draw it below!
Compare your findings with your partner. Do you agree? Solid Shape Explorers • Lab Sheet
Shape Action Posters Shape Actions
WE CAN ROLL!
⚽
The Secret:
Shapes with CURVED sides can turn over and over!
🏀 Sphere
🥫 Cylinder
🎉 Cone
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Let's Roll!
Shape Actions
WE CAN STACK!
TOP
BOTTOM
The Secret:
Shapes with FLAT tops and bottoms can stand on each other!
🎲 Cube
🥫 Cylinder
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Tower Power!
Shape Actions
WE CAN SLIDE!
🎲
PUSH!
The Secret:
Shapes with a FLAT bottom can slide along smooth surfaces!
🎲 Cube
🥫 Cylinder
🎉 Cone
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Slippery slide!
Roll Stack Slide Answer Key Teacher Answer Key
Roll, Stack, or Slide? Key
Grading Guide for Lesson 2 Exploration Worksheet
Properties Grading Note:
Every physical block shape rolls, stacks, or slides based on its geometric features. Below is the scientific truth table. Ensure student checks match these exact columns!
3D Shape Block
Can it ROLL? 🏀
Can it STACK? 🥞
Can it SLIDE? 🛹
🏀 Sphere
✓
✗
✗
🎲 Cube
✗
✓
✓
🥫 Cylinder
✓
✓
✓
🎉 Cone
✓
✗
✓
Superstar Shape Answer:
The shape that does all three is the Cylinder. See sample student response below:
🥫
Cylinder! "It can roll on its curved side, and stack/slide on its flat ends!"
Verify that students have written a checkmark or drawn a Cylinder in the discovery area! Solid Shape Explorers Answer Key
Shape Anatomy Posters Shape Anatomy
THE CUBE
🎲
Corner (Vertex) 8 Pointy Corners!
Face (Flat Side) 6 Square Faces!
Edge (Straight Line) 12 Straight Edges!
"A cube is super straight! It has flat squares for faces, straight lines for edges, and very pointy corners."
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Cube Anatomy
Shape Anatomy
THE SPHERE
⚽
Curved Surface 1 Round Surface!
Edges 0 Edges!
Corners 0 Corners!
"A sphere is completely round and smooth! It has zero flat sides and zero pointy corners. It only rolls!"
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Sphere Anatomy
Shape Anatomy
THE CYLINDER
🥫
Circle Faces 2 Flat Circles!
Curved Surface 1 Round Middle!
Corners 0 Pointy Corners!
"A cylinder is like a soup can! It has flat circles on the top and bottom, but its middle is round and curved."
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Cylinder Anatomy
Shape Anatomy
THE CONE
🍦
Pointy Tip (Apex) 1 Pointy Tip!
Curved Surface 1 Round Middle!
Circle Face 1 Flat Circle Bottom!
"A cone is like a party hat! It has one flat circle at the bottom, but curves all the way up to a sharp, pointy tip."
Solid Shape Explorers Classroom Poster Cone Anatomy
Building Challenge Cards Building Centers
Cut along the thick lines to make 8 center cards. Color them!
Page 1 of 2
Card 1
🎲
Cube Builder
What you need:
Clay/Playdough + 8 Toothpicks
Roll 8 tiny clay balls for the pointy corners. Connect them with toothpicks to make a cube!
Can it stand up on its own?
Card 2
🏀
Sphere Roll
What you need:
1 Lump of Playdough / Clay
Roll the playdough in your hands until it is perfectly round! Make sure there are zero corners.
Does it roll across the table?
Card 3
🥫
Cylinder Lab
What you need:
Clay / Playdough
Roll a thick log. Tap the top and bottom on your desk to make two perfectly flat circle faces!
Can you stack another on top?
Card 4
🎉
Cone Creator
What you need:
Clay / Playdough
Pinch the top of a clay ball to make a pointy tip. Press the bottom flat on your desk!
How many flat sides does it have?
Cut along thick solid lines for task cards. Solid Shape Explorers • Centers Pack
Mega Challenges
More creative challenges for advanced builders!
Page 2 of 2
Card 5
🗼
Tower Power
What you need:
3 Cubes + 2 Cylinders
Stack all 5 shapes to build a tall tower! Put the cylinders and cubes together.
Can you stack a cylinder on its side?
Card 6
🛹
Ramp Racer
What you need:
Book (Ramp) + 3D Shapes
Prop a book up to make a slide. Test your shapes! Which one rolls to the bottom first?
Which shapes slide instead of roll?
Card 7
🏠
House Builder
What you need:
1 Cube + 1 Cone block
Build a little toy house. Which shape should be the bottom? Which shape should be the roof?
Can you stack them the other way?
Card 8
🕵️♂️
Mystery Bag
What you need:
Paper Bag + 4 Shape Blocks
Put blocks in a bag. Put your hand inside without looking! Feel a shape and guess its name!
Did you find a pointy corner?
Laminate cards for durability in centers! Solid Shape Explorers • Centers Pack
Shape Hunt Worksheet Shape Detectives
Grab a clipboard and search the classroom! What real 3D shapes can you find?
Name: ______________________
Date: _______________________
Detective Mission:
Look around the room! Find a real-world object for each of the four 3D shapes. In each box, draw a picture of the object you found!
🏀 Sphere
Round
I found a: _________________________
🎲 Cube
Boxy
I found a: _________________________
🥫 Cylinder
Can Shape
I found a: _________________________
🎉 Cone
Pointy
I found a: _________________________
Color your drawing after you draw it. Good hunting, detective! Solid Shape Explorers • Scavenger Hunt
