Shapes Game for Kids: Shape Explorer
Shape Explorer is a free geometry game that helps children recognize 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
- Pre-K–5th Grade
- Skills
- Naming 2D shapes such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons and rhombuses, Counting the sides and corners (vertices) of polygons, Recognizing 3D shapes such as cubes, cylinders, cones and pyramids
- 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
- Recognizing 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 Grade. Children in 2nd Grade can name common 3D shapes, and Grades 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 |
|---|---|
| Pre-K | 2D shapes |
| Kindergarten | 2D shapes |
| 1st Grade | Sides & corners |
| 2nd Grade | 3D shapes |
| 3rd Grade | 3D faces & edges |
| 4th Grade | 3D faces & edges |
| 5th Grade | 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.
📝 Use it for test prep
Shape Explorer builds skills for these tests. Try the ⏱️ Timed test button for exam-style practice.
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 math
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalized tutoring to build skills and confidence.