Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes
Count edges and vertices of 3D shapes
Geometry
CCSS 2.G.A.1England: Y2 GeometryEngland: Y3 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Count edges and vertices of 3D shapes.
- 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: Count the faces of 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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Count the faces of 3D shapes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How many faces does a square-based pyramid have? → 5Prompt: A face is a flat surface.
- How many flat faces does a sphere have? → 0Prompt: Curved surfaces are not flat faces.
- How many faces does a cuboid have? → 6Prompt: A face is a flat surface.
Hook · 6 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: Count edges and vertices of 3D shapes. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: How many edges does a cuboid have?
- Step 1: A cuboid has 12 edges and 8 vertices.
- Step 2: 12
- Answer: 12
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- How many edges does a cube have? → 12Prompt: An edge is where two faces meet.
- Ava says a cuboid has 8 vertices. True or false? (True / False) → TruePrompt: Picture the shape or hold a real one.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Nia says a square-based pyramid has 6 faces. True or false? (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Picture the shape or hold a real one.
- How many edges does a cube have? → 12Prompt: An edge is where two faces meet.
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: Count the faces of 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/grade-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder