Virginia SOL 2.MG.4.b
The Standard
Compare and contrast models and nets (cutouts) of cubes and rectangular prisms (e.g., number and shapes of faces, edges, vertices).
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will describe, name, compare, and contrast plane and solid figures (circles/spheres, squares/cubes, and rectangles/rectangular prisms).
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students examine cube and rectangular prism models and flat nets, then count faces, edges, and vertices. They explain what is alike, what differs, and how each net folds into its solid.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student correctly identifies 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices on both solids. They note that a cube has six equal square faces, while the rectangular prism shown may have rectangular faces of different sizes. They can match a net to its solid and explain the match using face shapes and placement.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may count a face as an edge, miss hidden parts, or count the same edge twice. They may think a flat net is unrelated to the folded solid, or assume any arrangement of six squares makes a cube. Some think cubes and rectangular prisms have different numbers of faces, edges, or vertices.
How to Assess It
- Give students one cube net and one rectangular prism model. Ask, “For each, record the faces, edges, and vertices, then write one similarity and one difference.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed cube and rectangular prism nets to cut, fold, tape, and label each face, edge, and vertex.
Show two solids and ask, “How are they alike and different in faces, edges, and vertices?”
Play Net Match: students pair solid cards with net cards, then earn the pair by giving one piece of evidence.
Compare a die and a cereal box, recording face shapes and the number of faces, edges, and vertices.
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Printable 2.MG.4.b Worksheet
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- 2.MG.4.c
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