Unit 7, Lesson 7
Flat and Solid Shapes
Kindergarten
Preparation
Lesson Narrative
In previous lessons, students explored, identified, created, and counted two-dimensional shapes such as circles and squares. In this lesson, students are not expected to use precise vocabulary so they may use words such as “lying flat” to describe a two-dimensional shape and words such as “solid,” “taking up space,” “tall,” or “sticks up” to describe a three-dimensional shape. Throughout this unit, students will hear and use the terms “flat” and “solid” to describe two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. The names of common three-dimensional shapes will be introduced in a future lesson.
- Action and Expression
- MLR8
- Compare and contrast (orally) flat shapes and solid shapes using informal language.
- Describe (orally) flat and solid shapes using informal language.
- Represent flat and solid shapes with clay.
- Let’s build shapes with clay.
Required Materials
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Required Preparation
- Each student needs a piece of clay.
- Gather a cone and cylinder to display.
- Each group of 2 students needs a set of solid shapes and a set of cards.
- Gather materials from:
- Counting Collections, Stage 1
- Match Mine, Stage 1
- Shake and Spill, Stages 1–4
Suggested Centers
NoneTeacher Reflection Questions
The standards ask students to “identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, flat) or three-dimensional (solid).” How does building shapes out of clay help students distinguish between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes?