Module 4 Understanding shape
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Can I identify matching nets for 3D shapes, visualizing corresponding features?

Example review questions

  • Arrange six rectangles to form the net for a cuboid. How many different nets can you make to form the same cuboid?
  • Draw 2 ticks, 2 crosses, 2 stars and 2 dots onto this net so that symbols on parallel faces of the hexagonal prism will match:
    6 rectangles and 2 hexagons
  • A cube has shaded triangles on three of its faces.
    Hexagonal prism
    Here is the net of the cube. Draw in the two missing triangles.
    6 cubes with small shaded triangle

Teaching guidance

This teaching guidance document suggests some of the key vocabulary, models, images and practical equipment that children should experience and be able to use. It also includes some teaching tips to provide a few starting points for ways of supporting children with this area of mathematics.

PDF file Teaching guidance: Can I identify matching nets for 3D shapes, visualizing corresponding features? | 105KB new window

Consolidation and practice

These resources are to support children in guided or independent work. Roll over the highlighted resource for a description.

PDF file How to use isometric grid ITP | 255KB new window

SWF file Isometric grid ITP | sizeKB new window

DOC file Missing faces learning activity | 38KB new window

Visit the nrich website new window for further activities to support practice and application.

Isometric grid

itp_isometric_grid.png

This interactive teaching program (ITP) is an ICT-based tool to support the exploration of shape and space. Isometric grid ITP allows the child or teacher to display equilateral triangles. The grid can be hidden or become an isometric pin board. An 'elastic band' can be stretched around the pins to create outlines. Rhombuses can be selected and dragged to different positions on the grid, and then locked together to form representations of 3-D shapes.

Opportunities to use and apply

Possible contexts include:

  • Design and technology, e.g. Design and build packaging for a product; design and build a set of nesting cartons.
  • Art, e.g. Create a picture/pattern on a net so that it flows around the faces of the 3-D shape.
  • Visualising, e.g. Look at some unusually shaped boxes, visualise flattening them out and describing the nets, use a construction kit to build net or draw it, fold up to check.

PDF file 'Mathematical challenges' Year 5 and Year 6: | 1.2MB new window A perfect match

 

Confirming learning

Ask probing questions such as:

  • Complete this net for a triangular prism: Can you create a net for a different triangular prism using the same face as a starting point?
    Rectangle with smaller rectangle sitting inside with a number of spots
  • The number of spots on opposite faces of a normal die add up to seven. Draw a net for a die and include the spots.
  • This net folds to make a tetrahedron. Shade the blank face so that the shading matches along each edge:
    Triangle in a triangle with shaded area as tetrahedron.
  • Use isometric paper to make a net for a hexagonal prism. Colour it in three colours so that no two touching faces are the same colour.