Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Solid shapes that roll, stack or slide
Geometry
CCSS K.G.A.3CCSS K.G.B.4England: Reception ShapeEngland: Y1 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Solid shapes that roll, stack or slide.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Name 3D shapes
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Name 3D shapes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What 3D shape is a ball most like? (cuboid / sphere / cone / cylinder) → spherePrompt: Does it roll? Does it have flat faces?
- Which of these is a flat (2D) shape: square, pyramid, cube? (cube / pyramid / square) → squarePrompt: Flat shapes can be drawn on paper. Solid shapes can be picked up.
- Which of these is a flat (2D) shape: sphere, rectangle, cone? (cone / sphere / rectangle) → rectanglePrompt: Flat shapes can be drawn on paper. Solid shapes can be picked up.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
- Share the objective: Solid shapes that roll, stack or slide. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Can a sphere (like a ball) roll?
- Step 1: It has a curved surface, so yes, it rolls.
- Answer: Yes
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Can a cuboid (like a cereal box) roll? (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Things with a curved surface can roll.
- Which solid shape is easiest to stack in a tall tower? (sphere / cube / cone / cylinder) → cubePrompt: Flat faces sit steadily on top of each other; curved surfaces roll.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which solid shape is easiest to stack in a tall tower? (sphere / cube / cone / cylinder) → cubePrompt: Flat faces sit steadily on top of each other; curved surfaces roll.
- Nia says a cylinder can roll AND stack. True or false? (True / False) → TruePrompt: A cylinder has a curved surface and two flat faces.
Watch out for
- Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
- Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Name 3D shapes.
- Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder