Vocabulary - Shape: 3D

The vocabulary list provided is an essential toolkit for understanding and describing three-dimensional (3D) shapes, a fundamental aspect of geometry for KS2 students. The list includes a variety of 3D shapes such as a 'cube', 'cuboid', 'pyramid', 'sphere', 'hemisphere', 'cone', 'cylinder', and 'prism'. Each of these shapes has distinct characteristics, for example, a cube has equal sides and a cuboid has rectangular faces. A pyramid is a shape with a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet at a point known as the 'vertex'. When a shape has more than one vertex, these are referred to as 'vertices'. The flat surfaces of a 3D shape are known as 'faces', while the lines where two faces meet are called 'edges'. The term 'surface' can refer to both the flat ('flat') or rounded ('curved') outer sides of the shape.

Additional terms define the properties and features of these shapes, such as 'straight' edges versus 'curved' surfaces, and whether the shape is 'hollow' or 'solid'. Understanding whether a shape is 'spherical' like a ball, 'cylindrical' like a can, or a 'tetrahedron', which is a type of 'polyhedron' with four triangular faces, is crucial. More complex shapes like an 'octahedron', which is another form of polyhedron, are also introduced. The list also includes terms that describe the orientation and alignment of shapes, such as 'horizontal' and 'vertical', and how they relate to each other, like 'perpendicular' or 'parallel'. Additionally, terms like 'regular' and 'irregular' indicate the uniformity of a shape's sides and angles. Finally, a 'cross-section' refers to the shape exposed when a 3D shape is cut through a plane.