Learning Activities
SHAPES
Before Kindergarten, children should be able to:
- Recognize and identify circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles.
- Match objects based on shape.
- Copy a shape on paper.
IDEAS FOR TEACHING SHAPES
1. Purchase shape magnets found at the dollar store or Walmart. Have child pick out all of a shape you name and put them on a cookie sheet. You could also have the child pick out all of the shapes of the same color. Find some shape flash cards (also at the dollar store) and have your child match the shape on the card with the shape magnet.
2. Find different small objects around the house and trace them onto index cards. Have your child match the object with the correct index card. Examples of objects could be keys, clothes pin, army man, car, etc.)
3. Do the same thing as above in example 2 except either cut shapes out of spounges or purchase spounges that are already cut into shapes. Trace spounge shape onto an index card. Have child match the spounge to the index card.
4. Get an assortment of pasta (bow ties, shells, wheels, pene pasta etc.). Have child group similar pasta together. You could have them put the matching pasta in cups or bowls or anything else you can think of or have around your house.
5. Using masking tape, make big shapes on the floor. Make beanbags that are different shapes. Have child toss the bean bag into the corresponding taped shape. You could do many other things with the taped shapes on the floor. You could call out a shape and have your child run to the shape as fast as they can. You could cut several shapes out of paper and have your child stick them in the matching shape on the floor.
6. Cut 2 sets of shapes out of paper. Lamenate. Hold up your set and have your child find the matching shape in his set. You could also do this same thing by putting the shape up on the fridge or hang a string between two chairs and clothes pin the shapes onto it.
7. Cut out a bunch of small shapes. Tape one of each shape to a small box or tuperware or something. Have child sort all of the shapes into the corresponding boxes.
8. Cut a medium size circle out of green paper and a similar size octagon out of red paper. Write "Go" on the green circle and "Stop" on the red octagon. Tape the shapes back to back on a jumbo craft stick. You can use this to teach your child stop and go. Have child run or jump or dance while you have the sign facing go and teach the child to stop when you turn it to the red octagon.
9. Get some smART Foam Beads 2 Lace. Basically they are beads that are many different shapes and colors. Teach the child to lace them to make a neclace.
10. Cut shapes out of spounges or purchase precut spounge shapes. Use these for bath toys. The child can stick them to the wall of the bath tub. Talk about the shapes while you bathe your child.
11. Make and play FILE FOLDER GAMES with your child that teach them their shapes.
- Christmas Tree Shape Match (PreschoolPrintables.com)
- Falling For Shapes (PreschoolPrintables.com)
- Gingerbread Buttons (PreschoolPrintables.com)
- Ship Shape (PreschoolPrintables.com)
- Number Shape FF Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Scarecrow Shape File Folder Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Pilgrim and Turkey Shape File Folder Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Mitten Shape Puzzles FF Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Pot-O-Gold and Shamrock Shape File Folder Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Bell Visual Discrimination File Folder Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Birdhouse Shape Match File Folder Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) - Bunny Shapes (KinderPrintables.com)
12. Here are some FLOOR GAMES OR TABLE games that you can do with your child. Also to add variety you can play these games on the refridgerator or on a clothes line that you made by tying a string between two chairs.
-
Turkey Shape Match Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Paint Can and Paint Brush Shape Floor/Table Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Butterfly Shape Memory Match Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Bear Shape Match Game (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Ghost Shape Memory Match (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Shape...Find ... Count ... and Graph (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Summer Learning Friends Shape Match (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Egg Visual Discrimination Match (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Flower Shape Mat (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color)
13. Read a lot of BOOKS about shapes to your child. You'll be surprised at how quickly they pick up the shapes just by reading to them. Below are some great books to teach shapes or make your own books using the links below:
-
How Many Shapes Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Big and Small Shapes Interactive Emergent Reader Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Shape Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color)
14. Have your child put together PUZZLES either that you make or purchased.
-
Ladybug Shape Puzzles (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Paint Brush Shape Puzzles (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Fall Learning Friends Shape Puzzles (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Gift Box Visual Discrimination Puzzles (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color)
15. Get a SHAPE SORTER for your child! Below are several options available.
16. Make a shape MATCH BOOK for your child.
-
Watermelon Shape Match Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Shamrock Shape Match Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color) -
Summer Learning Friends Shape Match Book (ChildCareLand.com)
(b&w) (color)
17. Here are some more TOYS AND GAMES to help you child learn their shapes:
18. Here are some Shape WORKSHEETS & ACTIVITY SHEETS.
- Preschool Shape Worksheets (TLSBooks.com)
- The Different Shape (TLSBooks.com)
- Trace the Different Shape (TLSBooks.com)
- Shapes Recognition Practice (KidZone.ws)
- Shapes Theme Actitiy Pages (TeachersandFamilies.com)
- Under 5s Shape Activities (underfives.co.uk)
- Shape Dominoes (bry-backmanor.org)
- Shape Finds (bry-backmanor.org)
- Shape Matching (bry-backmanor.org)
- Shape Drawing (bry-backmanor.org)
- Shape Dice & Spinner (bry-backmanor.org)
- Shape Writing Pages (bry-backmanor.org)
19. Here are some fun COLORING PAGES.
- Shapes (KidsRCrafty.com)
20. Here are some great DVDs on shapes.
21. Here are some ideas from other WEBSITES.
- Shapes Theme (EverythingPreschool.com)
- Shape-Book Patterns (EduPlace.com)
- Shapes Printable Activities (First-School.ws)
- Shape Activities (123Child.com)
- Lotsa Lesson Plans - Shapes (hummingbirded.com/shapes)
- A lot of Shape Activities (edhelper.com)
- Shapes Songs and Activities (littlegiraffes.com)
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