2D & 3D Shape Games for kids
Learning shapes helps kids to make sense of their world. After all, shapes are all around us. Speaking a common language of shapes can help us identify items to each other and learn how to manipulate them.
By the end of kindergarten kids are expected to be able to identify whether a shape is 2D or 3D as well as identify several different 2D and 3D shapes. Often kids have already learned the 2D shapes in preschool or TK.
Games are a great way to practice shape names.
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Playing either our 2D or 3D shape game with a partner will help kids practice their shape identification skills and lock them into their brains. And you won’t need much to get this game started!
Supplies
All you really need to play is our our printable game which includes a die you can construct. Download the game at the end of the post.
Kids will need two coins or figures to use as a playing piece as well.
The only problem with a paper die is that can sometimes bounce unevenly or get squished by little hands. So, if you want to use this game over and over consider grabbing some dice where you can draw or tape the shapes on.
I found these dice where the faces work like a dry erase board. There also other dice where each face has a little plastic pocket to slip a picture inside.
2D Shape Game
The 2D shape game is best for preschool or TK age kids, or reviewing at the beginning of kindergarten.
It cover the following shapes:
- Circle
- Square
- Diamond
- Rectangle
- Triangle
- Pentagon
Hexagons and Octagons are also good 2D shapes for kids to know by the end of kindergarten that aren’t included in our games.
3D Shape Game
The 3D shape game is best for kindergarten age kids or 1st graders needing to review their shapes.
It cover the following shapes:
- Sphere
- Pyramind
- Cylinder
- Cone
- Rectangular Prism or Cuboid
- Cube
There are two different versions of the 3D game die so you can choose whether to call it a cuboid or a rectangular prism.
It was always a rectangular prism when I was a kid but as I’m teaching my daughter I come across it called a cuboid often as well.
Gameplay Directions
Gameplay is simple! Choose someone to go first. That person rolls the die. Identify the shape by name and then move their playing piece to the corresponding place on the board.
Take turns until someone reaches the “end”. The first person to reach the end wins.
If you roll the die and aren’t sure what the name of the shape is then hopefully your partner can help. That’s why it’s great to play in pairs!
Printable shape games
Both games are included in the PDF below. Simply print out the pages for either the 2D or 3D game or use both!
(Remember that the 3D game die has two different versions but you only need to print one of them.)
Printables are for personal use only. All printables on Tot School Resources website are the property of totschoolresources.com and may not be sold, used for commercial purposes, or given away for free on your own website.
Have fun practicing your shapes! For a fun game to get kids up and moving check out our printable move like an animal game!
