EXPLORE: Constructing prisms and pyramids

 Let’s Explore!

 

This investigation is a chance for you to construct 3-dimensional shapes. You’ll start with making nets of models and then making a skeleton model. Lastly, you will draw 3D solids. 

You will need the following materials:

• paper
• toothpicks
• clay
• grid paper
• ruler

 

Nets of solids

 

• First, create a plan to draw a model of a prism.
• Ask your teacher or parent to check if the plan to draw your net is accurate. 
• Draw your nets on a piece of paper.
• You can then cut out and construct your prism.
• Repeat this process to construct a pyramid.

What differences did you notice between the nets of the prism and the nets of the pyramid?

 

Let's try for more!

 

Skeleton models

Find a partner and work as a pair to choose a prism to construct. Discuss how many toothpicks and how many balls of clay you will need to do this. 

• What does the number of toothpicks represent? 
• What does the number of balls of clay represent?

Construct your model. Take note of the name of the solids, number of faces, edges and vertices. After you have finished constructing your prism, it’s time to make your pyramid. Repeat what you did in making the prism to construct your pyramid model.  

 

Drawing 3D solids

The first solid you will draw is a cube. Using grid paper and a ruler, start by drawing a square. Identify the center of the square and use this as the starting point to draw another identical square. The second square will appear a little to the side of the original.

Join the matching vertices between the two squares with straight lines. This will create the 3D image.

Repeat this process with another 2D shape to see what other 3D solids you can create.