- Definition
Imagine a perfectly round ball, like a soccer ball or a globe; every spot on its surface is the exact same distance from its very center.
A basketball is a sphere because it is perfectly round all the way around.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A sphere is like a perfectly round bouncy ball that you play with at recess.
Ask your child: What other things that are spheres can you find?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a sphere is the same as a circle. A circle is a flat shape, but a sphere is a solid shape like a ball you can hold.
Examples
- A marble is a small sphere you can roll.
- A gumball from a machine is a sphere.
sphere is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
