In Grade 5, students identify and classify three-dimensional figures: right prisms, right pyramids, right circular cylinders, right circular cones, and spheres.
Look at the bases and faces. Prisms and cylinders have two matching bases; pyramids and cones have one base and come to a point (a vertex or apex); a sphere has no flat faces at all.
Official benchmarkIdentify and classify three-dimensional figures into categories based on their defining attributes. Figures are limited to right pyramids, right prisms, right circular cylinders, right circular cones and spheres.
On the FAST test: part of the Grade 5 reporting category Geometric Reasoning, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability, which is about 23–29% of the test.
Worked Examples
Worked Example 1
Prism or Pyramid?
A figure with a square base and 4 triangular faces that meet at a point
1One base, and the other faces are triangles meeting at a point.
2That makes it a pyramid.
3The base is a square.
Answer: Square pyramid
Worked Example 2
Counting Faces
A triangular prism
1It has 2 triangular bases.
2It has 3 rectangular faces connecting the bases.
32 + 3 = 5 faces.
Answer: 5 faces
Common Mistakes to Watch For
Mixing up prisms and pyramids
Wrong:A shape with a triangle on each end is a pyramid
Two matching bases connected by rectangles make a prism (a triangular prism). A pyramid has only one base.
Mixing up cylinders and cones
Wrong:A cone has two circular bases
A cone has one circular base and comes to a point. A cylinder has two circular bases.
Helpful Math Tip
Find real objects at home: a cereal box (rectangular prism), a can (cylinder), an ice cream cone (cone), a ball (sphere).
Independent Educational Platform. FastChomp is published by Tropical Learning LLC and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. FAST and Star assessment names are referenced for informational purposes only. FastChomp practice questions are original educational materials, not official Florida FAST assessment questions.
