Naming 3D Shapes: Step-by-Step Example
23 October 2026
Children often find 3D shapes in everyday life, but knowing the right name can be tricky. To help your child feel confident, start by looking at the number of faces, edges, and corners a shape has. This makes it easier to spot the differences between each 3D shape.
Worked example
Question: Look at this shape. It has 6 faces. All the faces are squares. It has 12 edges and 8 vertices. What is the name of this 3D shape?
Step 1: Count the faces. There are 6 faces.
Step 2: Check the shape of each face. Every face is a square.
Step 3: Count the edges. There are 12 edges.
Step 4: Count the vertices (corners). There are 8 vertices.
Step 5: A 3D shape with 6 square faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices is called a cube.
The correct answer is cube.
Key insight: Once your child can count faces, edges, and vertices, they can name many 3D shapes correctly. Now they are ready to practise with similar questions, building skills for the 11+ exam.
