You will learn
- Recognise a cube.
- Say that a cube has 6 flat faces that are squares.
- Count the edges and corners of a cube.
- Find cube shapes around us.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · expert review pending Standards alignment: pending verification. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A cube is a solid shape.
- It has 6 flat faces. Each face is a square.
- It has 12 edges and 8 corners.
- A dice is a cube.
Words to know
A solid shape with 6 square faces.
A flat surface of a solid shape.
Where two faces meet.
Where edges meet (a vertex).
1. Discover: a dice
Hold a dice in your hand. How many flat sides does it have? What shape is each side?
2. Understand: what is a cube?
A cube is a solid shape. It has 6 flat faces, and every face is a square. It has 12 edges and 8 corners.
A dice, a sugar cube and a square box with equal sides are cubes.
A flat shape like a square is drawn on paper. A cube is solid: you can hold it.
Idea 1: A solid shape
A square is flat. A cube is a solid shape that you can hold. A dice is a cube.
Idea 2: Faces, edges and corners
A face is a flat surface. A cube has 6 faces: top, bottom, front, back, left and right. Each face is a square.
An edge is where two faces meet. A cube has 12 edges.
A corner is where edges meet. A cube has 8 corners.
Why count in order? Counting top, bottom and sides helps you not to miss a hidden face.
Idea 3: Cubes around us
A dice and a sugar cube are cubes. Some boxes are cubes too.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Count the faces
How many faces does a cube have?
- Count the top and the bottom: 2.
- Count the front and the back: 2 more.
- Count the left and the right: 2 more.
Answer: 6 faces.
Example 2 (We do it together): Count the edges
How many edges does a cube have?
- 4 edges on the top.
- 4 edges on the bottom.
- 4 edges going up the sides.
Answer: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 edges.
Example 3 (You try): Count the corners
How many corners does a cube have?
Show the steps and answer
- 4 corners on the top.
- 4 corners on the bottom.
Answer: 4 + 4 = 8 corners.
Did you know?
On a normal dice, the dots on opposite faces add up to 7.
Why this matters
Cubes stack neatly and are easy to pack. Knowing faces, edges and corners helps in building and making boxes.
4. Explore: count a cube
You need a small cube (a dice or a box with equal sides).
- Touch each face and count them: 6.
- Count the corners: 8.
- Count the edges: 12.
- Trace a face on paper. What shape is it?
Think about it: what did you notice?
A face traced is a square.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A cube has ___ faces.
- The faces of a cube are ___.
- A cube has ___ edges and ___ corners.
- ___ is shaped like a cube.
Guided practice
Question 1. How many faces has a cube?
6.
Question 2. What shape is each face?
A square.
Question 3. How many corners?
8.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Name an object shaped like a cube.
- How many flat faces has a cube?
- What shape are the faces?
- How many edges has a cube?
- Can a cube roll easily? Why?
Level 2: Grow
- How many faces does a cube have?
- What shape is each face of a cube?
- Name something shaped like a cube.
Level 3: Stretch
- A cube has 4 edges on top, 4 on the bottom and some going up. How many edges in all?
- A cube has 8 corners. 4 are on the top. How many are on the bottom?
- Why is a cube not a square?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A dice is a cube. How many faces have dots on them?
Show a sample answer
6 faces, one for each number.
Another one. You want to stack boxes neatly. Why are cube-shaped boxes good for stacking?
Show a sample answer
Their faces are flat squares, so they sit flat on each other and do not roll.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: A cube is solid with 6 faces. A square is a flat shape.
Fix: A square is flat. A cube is a solid shape. Its faces are squares.
Fix: Count top, bottom, front, back, left and right: 6 faces.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can recognise a cube.
- I can say a cube has 6 faces that are squares.
- I can count the edges and corners of a cube.
- I can find cube shapes around me.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- A cube has 6 square faces.
- A cube has 12 edges and 8 corners.
- A cube is solid; a square is flat.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Spheres. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- How many faces does a cube have? [1 mark]
- What shape are the faces of a cube? [1 mark]
- How many edges and corners does a cube have? [2 marks]
- Name two objects shaped like a cube. [2 marks]
- Mia says a cube is a square. Is she right? Explain. [2 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 6 [1]
- Squares [1]
- 12 edges [1]; 8 corners [1]
- Any two correct [1 each]
- No [1]. A square is flat. A cube is a solid with 6 square faces [1].
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Faces of a cube?
- Edges of a cube?
- Corners of a cube?
- Name one cube object.
- Shape of each face?
- How many corners has a cube?
- How many edges has a cube?
- What shape are the faces of a cube?
- Name something shaped like a cube.
- Is a cube a flat shape?
Homework
Find three cube-shaped objects at home (a dice, a block, a box). Count the faces on each.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Faces of a cube? | 6 | 2 |
| Edges of a cube? | 12 | 2 |
| Corners of a cube? | 8 | 2 |
| Name one cube object. | Any: dice, sugar cube, toy block | 2 |
| Shape of each face? | square | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 6; 2 12; 3 8; 4 Any: dice, sugar cube, toy block; 5 square.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 8; 7 12; 8 Square; 9 A dice; 10 No. It is a solid shape..
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 a dice; 2 6; 3 squares; 4 12; 5 not easily, because its faces are flat and it has corners. Level 2: 1 6; 2 A square; 3 A dice or a sugar cube. Level 3: 1 12; 2 4; 3 A square is flat. A cube is a solid shape with 6 square faces..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Recognise a cube | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Say that a cube has 6 flat faces that are squares | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Count the edges and corners of a cube | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Find cube shapes around us | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Proposed Courseversity thresholds for this page: Bronze = at least 8 of 12 core questions correct; Silver = all 12; Gold = all 12 plus both challenge questions. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Confusing a cube (solid) with a square (flat). A cube is solid with 6 faces. A square is a flat shape.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Hold a cube and touch each face one at a time while counting.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns about the cube and counts its faces, edges and corners. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Look at dice and boxes at home. Count the faces.
- Use a cube-shaped box to count faces, edges and corners.
- Ask: what shape is each face?
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: recognise a cube; say that a cube has 6 flat faces that are squares; count the edges and corners of a cube; find cube shapes around us.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lesson 3: squares.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need a small cube (a dice or a box with equal sides). Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How many faces, edges and corners does a cube have? What shape are the faces? Is a cube flat?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Confusing a cube (solid) with a square (flat). A cube is solid with 6 faces. A square is a flat shape.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 8-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Hold a cube and touch each face one at a time while counting. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
Alignment is pending verification and no external endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Specific standard codes will be added once checked against the official documents.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core K.G.A.2 and 1.G.A.1; Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 1. These sources informed the lesson; no official alignment is claimed.