Cube faces
A cube has 6 square faces and all its edges are the same length.
Equal square faces are a strong clue that the solid is a cube.
Year 5
Identify 3-D shapes, including cubes and other cuboids, from 2-D representations
Recognise cubes and cuboids from nets, sketches and different two-dimensional views.
Lesson overview
Geometry - properties of shape
Three-dimensional shapes can be shown in two-dimensional ways. We can identify them by looking for the number and shape of faces, whether edges are all equal, and how the faces fit together.
Cuboid faces
A cuboid also has 6 faces, but some faces can be rectangles of different sizes.
Not all equal
A cube is a special kind of cuboid.
Nets fold into solids
A net with 6 connected squares can fold into a cube.
Picture the flat shape folding along the edges.
Worked example
A solid has 6 faces. Each face is a rectangle, and not all edges are equal. What is it?
- It has 6 faces, so it could be a cube or a cuboid.
- The faces are rectangles rather than all equal squares.
- The edges are not all the same length.
- So the solid is a cuboid.
Round 1: Learn it
Look for the faces and edge lengths before naming the solid.
Finish this round to unlock Round 2: Show you know it.
Question 1
Which solid has 6 equal square faces?
Question 2
A box has 6 rectangular faces and not all edges are equal. What is it?
Different lengths
Question 3
What can a net of 6 connected squares fold into?
Question 4
How many faces does a cuboid have?
count them
Question 5
Which statement is true?
Common mistakes
Watch for these as you work through the lesson.
- Calling every box-shaped solid a cube.
- Ignoring the face shapes in a net.
- Forgetting that cubes are a special kind of cuboid.
Related topics
These ideas connect closely to this lesson.
- Know angles are measured in degrees, estimate and compare acute, obtuse and reflex angles.
- Read and plot coordinates in the first quadrant and translate simple shapes.