What Are Sides, Vertices, Edges, and Faces?
Shapes are made up of special parts that we can count!
Let's learn about them:
• Sides are the straight lines that make up a shape
• Vertices (or corners) are the points where sides meet
• Edges are the lines where two faces meet in 3D shapes
• Faces are the flat surfaces of 3D shapes
How to Count Them
1️⃣ Look at the shape carefully
2️⃣ Touch each part as you count (or point with your finger)
3️⃣ Say the number out loud as you count each part
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Counting Parts of 2D Shapes
Click on each shape to see how many sides and vertices it has!
Triangle
Square
Pentagon
Example 2: Counting Parts of 3D Shapes
Let's count the faces, edges, and vertices of these 3D shapes!
Cube
Pyramid
Parent Tips 🌟
- Make it hands-on: Use blocks, Legos, or household items to let children touch and count the parts of real 3D objects.
- Shape hunt: Go on a shape hunt around your home or neighborhood and count sides/vertices of shapes you find.
- Play dough shapes: Create shapes with play dough and use toothpicks for edges to make counting more concrete.