Shapes Game for Kids: Shape Explorer
Shape Explorer is a free geometry game that helps children recognise and name flat and solid shapes, then look closely at their properties: sides, corners, faces, edges and vertices.
Shape Explorer
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- Ages
- 4–11
- School years
- Junior Infants–5th Class
- Skills
- Naming 2D shapes such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons and rhombuses, Counting the sides and corners (vertices) of polygons, Recognising 3D shapes such as cubes, cylinders, cones and pyramids
- Curriculum
- Primary Curriculum
- Time
- 2–5 minutes a round
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Shape Explorer
- Choose a level: 2D shapes, Sides & corners, 3D shapes, or 3D faces & edges.
- Look carefully at the shape in the picture.
- Tap the right name or number. On 3D shapes, dashed lines show the edges hidden at the back.
- Answer 10 questions, build a streak and earn up to three stars!
What your child learns
- Naming 2D shapes such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons and rhombuses
- Counting the sides and corners (vertices) of polygons
- Recognising 3D shapes such as cubes, cylinders, cones and pyramids
- Counting the faces, edges and vertices of 3D shapes
- Telling flat faces from curved surfaces
About Shape Explorer
Learning shape names gives children the words they need to describe the world around them, from a stop sign (an octagon) to a tin of beans (a cylinder). Counting sides, corners, faces and edges teaches them to look at what makes each shape special, which is the start of geometric reasoning.
Start with 2D shapes in {PreK-K}, then count sides and corners in 1st Class. Children in 2nd Class can name common 3D shapes, and Classes 3–5 can count faces, edges and vertices. On the 3D pictures, dashed lines show the edges you cannot see from the front, so every edge can be counted.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Junior Infants | 2D shapes |
| Senior Infants | 2D shapes |
| 1st Class | Sides & corners |
| 2nd Class | 3D shapes |
| 3rd Class | 3D faces & edges |
| 4th Class | 3D faces & edges |
| 5th Class | 3D faces & edges |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
🇮🇪 Primary Curriculum links
Find games by class →- Junior Infants · Stage 1 · Shape and Space: Shape: Recognising and naming common 2D shapes.
- 3rd Class · Stage 3 · Shape and Space: Shape: Describing 2D shapes and 3D objects by their faces, edges and corners.
Strands and strand units summarised from the Primary Mathematics Curriculum (2023) and the Primary Language Curriculum, published by the NCCA for the Department of Education (curriculumonline.ie). Both curricula set learning outcomes for two-year stages, so the class shown is our suggested starting point. Game alignment by Success Tutoring; not endorsed by the NCCA or the Department of Education.
Frequently asked questions
What shapes are in this game?
Ten 2D shapes (circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, trapezium (called a trapezoid in the US), pentagon, hexagon and octagon) and seven 3D shapes: the cube, cuboid (rectangular prism), sphere, cylinder, cone, square-based pyramid and triangular prism.
What is the difference between a face, an edge and a vertex?
A face is a flat surface of a 3D shape, an edge is a line where two faces meet, and a vertex is a corner where edges meet. A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices.
Does a cylinder have faces?
A cylinder has 2 flat faces (the circles at each end) and 1 curved surface. Because mathematicians use the word "edge" in different ways for curved shapes, the game only asks about flat faces and curved surfaces for spheres, cylinders and cones.
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Help your child shine in maths
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalised tutoring to build skills and confidence.