Three-dimensional (3D) objects
Space
Definition
A three-dimensional (3D) object can be defined as a solid or object that has three dimensions. The three dimensions are length, width and height. A two-dimensional shape refers to length and width whereas a three-dimensional object has thickness or depth.
Teaching and learning activities
The resources below provide targeted teaching strategies to support student improvement in this skill.
Each downloadable lesson activity includes:
learning intentions
a list of required resources
a step-by-step lesson sequence
printable classroom materials
Select the download all icon to download all available activities or select each activity separately.
PLAN2 Areas of focus
An Areas of focus template has been created in PLAN2 to support targeted teaching of Text structure in your learning area.
Search for the DoE template titled ‘DoE HSCMinStd Writing: Text structure’ in the Areas of focus template library tab within the Plan menu, and customise it for your students’ needs.
For more information about using PLAN2 Areas of focus templates with this resource, visit the Using this resource with PLAN2 page.
Relevance to the numeracy test marking
The feedback for a Level 3 performance in the HSC minimum standard online numeracy test states:
Individuals performing at this level typically “select appropriate strategies from a variety of everyday mathematical processes in familiar and some less familiar contexts”.
Students are able to use, identify, describe and apply their understanding and knowledge of key features and properties of common three-dimensional objects in the environment. They should continue developing their skills of visual imagery (the ability to hold an appropriate mental image of an object) and to predict the orientation or shape of an object that has been transformed.
Connections with ACSF Level 3 descriptors
The relevant Level 3 ACSF descriptors for numeracy are shown here to demonstrate how identifying three-dimensional objects, including describing their properties are assessed in the HSC minimum standard online test. The performance features identified show what a student is able to do in order to achieve at this level and are provided to support teachers to understand what is required to achieve a Level 3 in this skill.
Numeracy Indicator 3.09: Selects and interprets mathematical information that may be partly embedded in a range of familiar, and some less familiar, tasks and texts
Focus area: Complexity of mathematical information
Level 3 performance features:
interprets and comprehends familiar and routine 3D objects, including pyramids and cylinders
Numeracy Indicator 3.10: Selects from and uses a variety of developing mathematical and problem solving strategies in a range of familiar and some less familiar contexts
Focus area: Mathematical knowledge and skills: measurement and geometry
Level 3 performance features:
applies knowledge of properties of 3D solids to describe and draw everyday objects, including constructing common 3D objects
Connections with Numeracy Learning Progression:
The progressions describe a typical developmental sequence of literacy and numeracy learning. The numeracy progression sub-elements, levels and indicators relevant to three-dimensional objects are provided here to assist teachers to identify students’ capabilities and needs to support targeted teaching.
Element: Measurement and Geometry
Sub-element: Understanding geometric properties (UGP)
UGP1 — Familiar shapes and objects
locates and describes similar shapes and objects in the environment
UGP2 — Features of shapes and objects
identifies and describes features of shapes and objects (e.g. sides, corners, faces, edges and vertices)
sorts and classifies familiar shapes and objects based on obvious features (e.g. triangles have three sides; a sphere is round like a ball)
UGP3 — Properties of shapes and objects
describes and identifies the two-dimensional shapes represented by the faces of three-dimensional objects (e.g. recognises the faces of a triangular prism as triangles and rectangles)
represents shapes and objects (e.g. drawing and sketching; model building such as skeletal models and centi-cubes; using digital drawing packages)
UGP4 — Properties of shapes and objects
aligns three-dimensional objects to their two-dimensional nets
identifies the relationship between the number of faces, edges and the number of vertices of a three-dimensional object (e.g. uses a table to list the number of faces, edges and vertices of common three-dimensional objects and identifies the relationships in the data)
UGP5 — Properties of shapes and objects
classifies three-dimensional objects according to their properties (e.g. describes the difference between a triangular prism and a triangular pyramid)
relates pyramids and prisms to their two-dimensional nets