ID Common Geometric Solids

Geometric solids can have all flat surfaces, all curved surfaces, or both flat and curved surfaces. A geometric solid with all flat surfaces is called a polyhedron. Just as there are polygons and non-polygons, there are also polyhedrons and non-polyhedrons. Any geometric solid with at least one curved surface is not a polyhedron. See the storyboard titled Polyhedra as an example of a Frayer Model of information on polyhedrons.

There are many instances of polyhedrons and non-polyhedrons in our everyday life. In this activity, students will identify examples of specific polyhedrons or non-polyhedrons in the world.. Assign different students or groups sphere, cone, cylinder, cube, and rectangular prism. Students can use a spider map or grid to generate examples of geometric solids in the world around us. This activity is helpful for students to see math in the world around them and to identify, but not create, geometric solids. Share at least one completed assignment of every different solid for all students to view. Alternatively, have all students find fewer examples for all solids.