Three-dimensional shapes are one of the most hands-on, tactile topics in Grade 3 math — and one of the most reliably tested. Students are expected to identify common 3D shapes by name, count and describe their faces, edges, and vertices, and compare solid figures to one another. This post gives you a clear reference for each shape, explains the definitions of faces, edges, and vertices in student-friendly language, and includes a 20-question worksheet with a full answer key.
This resource supports Grade 3 geometry standards across multiple state frameworks, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Florida B.E.S.T., Texas TEKS, and New York CCLS. Teachers can use these problems as a formative assessment, warm-up activity, or homework assignment. Parents can use them for at-home review.
Key Vocabulary: Faces, Edges, and Vertices
Before counting, make sure students understand what each term means.
- Face: A flat surface on a 3D shape. A face is always a 2D shape (square, rectangle, triangle, circle). When you put a 3D solid down on a table, the surface touching the table is one face.
- Edge: A line segment where two faces meet. Run your finger along the corner where two flat sides of a box come together — that line is an edge.
- Vertex (plural: vertices): A point where three or more edges meet — a corner of the shape. Think of a vertex as the sharp tip of a pyramid or the corner of a cube.
Note for curved shapes: Curved shapes (cylinders, cones, spheres) are special cases. They have curved surfaces, not flat faces, so some teachers use a broader definition of “face” that includes curved surfaces. At the Grade 3 level, the most common convention is to count only flat faces. The table below follows that convention.
3D Shape Reference Chart
| Shape | Faces (flat) | Edges | Vertices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cube | 6 | 12 | 8 | All 6 faces are squares of equal size. |
| Rectangular Prism | 6 | 12 | 8 | Faces are rectangles (some may be squares). Same count as cube. |
| Triangular Prism | 5 | 9 | 6 | 2 triangular faces + 3 rectangular faces. |
| Square Pyramid | 5 | 8 | 5 | 1 square base + 4 triangular faces. |
| Triangular Pyramid (Tetrahedron) | 4 | 6 | 4 | All 4 faces are triangles. |
| Cylinder | 2 (flat circles) | 0 | 0 | Has 1 curved surface and 2 flat circular faces. |
| Cone | 1 (flat circle) | 0 | 1 (apex) | Has 1 curved surface, 1 flat circular face, and 1 pointed tip. |
| Sphere | 0 | 0 | 0 | Entirely curved — no flat faces, no edges, no corners. |
Memory Tips for Students
- Cube vs. rectangular prism: A cube is a special rectangular prism where all sides are equal — like a die. Both have 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices.
- Pyramids: The number of base edges equals the number of triangular faces. A square pyramid has a 4-sided base → 4 triangular faces → 5 faces total.
- Euler’s formula: For all flat-faced polyhedra, Faces + Vertices − Edges = 2. Students can use this as a check: cube (6 + 8 − 12 = 2 ✓). This is a powerful self-checking tool for curious students.
- Curved shapes: Cylinders and cones have “0 edges” because curved surfaces don’t create sharp line-segment edges. This surprises many students at first.
Grade 3 3D Shapes Worksheet (20 Questions)
Part A: Name the Shape
- A shape has 6 square faces. What is it? (Cube)
- A shape has 2 circular flat faces and 1 curved surface. What is it? (Cylinder)
- A shape has 1 square face and 4 triangular faces. What is it? (Square pyramid)
- A shape has no flat faces, no edges, and no vertices. What is it? (Sphere)
- A shape has 5 faces, 9 edges, and 6 vertices. What is it? (Triangular prism)
Part B: Count Faces, Edges, and Vertices
- How many faces does a cube have? (6)
- How many edges does a rectangular prism have? (12)
- How many vertices does a square pyramid have? (5)
- How many flat faces does a cone have? (1)
- How many edges does a triangular pyramid have? (6)
Part C: True or False
- A cube and a rectangular prism have the same number of faces. (True)
- A sphere has 1 edge. (False — 0 edges)
- A triangular prism has more faces than a square pyramid. (False — both have 5)
- A cylinder has vertices. (False — 0 vertices)
- All faces of a triangular pyramid are triangles. (True)
Part D: Short Answer
- Which two shapes both have exactly 6 faces? (Cube and rectangular prism)
- A shape has 4 triangular faces and 4 vertices. What is it? (Triangular pyramid / tetrahedron)
- How many more edges does a rectangular prism have than a square pyramid? (12 − 8 = 4 more edges)
- Maria says a cylinder has 3 faces. Is she correct? Explain. (It depends on the definition: a cylinder has 2 flat circular faces and 1 curved surface. If “face” means only flat surfaces, the answer is 2. Maria may be counting the curved surface as a third face.)
- I have 5 vertices and 8 edges. What shape am I? (Square pyramid)
Extending the Learning: Compare and Sort
Once students are comfortable identifying individual shapes, extend the learning with comparison activities:
- Sort by number of faces: Group all shapes with exactly 6 faces, then those with fewer than 6, then those with more. Discuss why some shapes don’t fit in any group (curved shapes).
- Match 2D faces to 3D shapes: Show a triangle, a square, and a circle. Ask: which 3D shapes have this face? (Triangle → prism or pyramid; Square → cube or prism; Circle → cylinder or cone.)
- Real-world shape hunt: Challenge students to find one real-world object for each 3D shape. A cereal box is a rectangular prism; an ice cream cone is a cone; a globe is a sphere.
Grade 3 Math Resources
ViewMath offers Grade 3 math workbooks, practice test books, and study guides that cover all major geometry standards — including 2D and 3D shapes, measurement, and fractions — alongside the other major Grade 3 content areas. All books include answer keys. Browse the Grade 3 catalog using the sidebar.
For a related lesson on 2D shapes, see our post Grade 3 2D Shapes Attributes Worksheet and our teacher guide How to Teach Grade 3 2D Shapes.
