Three-dimensional figures

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Learning about geometry involves developing key skills such as spatial awareness, orientation, and the ability to visualize objects from different perspectives. Three-dimensional shapes like cubes, prisms, pyramids, or cylinders offer a fantastic opportunity to foster these skills in the classroom.

Understanding 3D figures from a 2D representation is an essential step for students to visualize how a flat shape transforms into a solid object. This kind of thinking is fundamental not only in mathematics but also in areas such as technology, design, architecture, and engineering.

One highly effective way to work on this content is through the construction of physical models. Using flat templates that students can cut out, fold, and assemble allows them to concretely experience how a three-dimensional figure comes to life. By handling these templates, children also learn the characteristics of each shape, including concepts like faces, vertices, and edges.

Moreover, this activity can be adapted to different levels. In early grades, students can build simple shapes like cubes or rectangular prisms. As they grow older, they can take on more complex shapes like pyramids, hexagonal prisms, or even combine multiple figures to create more elaborate constructions.

Figure 1: simple shapes 



Here you have two tutorials that explain how to build some of the simple figures.



Figure 2: complex shapes 

Here you have two tutorials that explain how to build an icosahedron and an octahedron.



This blog have too many three-dimensional figures templates to download

Figuras Geométricas para Armar (Descarga pdf)

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