Activities on shapes

25 Creative Activities and Ideas For Learning Shapes

Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. This readies them for geometry in the years ahead, but it’s also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. We’ve rounded up our favorite activities for learning shapes, both 2-D and 3-D. They all work well in the classroom or at home.

1. Start with an anchor chart

Colorful anchor charts like these are terrific reference tools for kids learning shapes. Have kids help you come up with examples for each one.

Learn more: A Spoonful of Learning/Kindergarten Kindergarten

2. Sort items by shape

Collect items from around the classroom or house, then sort them by their shapes. This is a fun way for kids to realize that the world around them is full of circles, squares, triangles, and more.

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Shape-Sorting

3. Snack on some shapes

Everyone loves a learning activity you can eat! Some food items are already the perfect shape; for others, you’ll have to get a little creative.

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Learn more: Chieu Anh Urban

4. Print with shape blocks

Grab your shape blocks and some washable paint, then stamp shapes to form a design or picture.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

5. Go on a shape hunt

These “magnifying glasses” make an adventure of learning shapes! Tip: Laminate them for long-term use.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

6. Hop along a shape maze

Use sidewalk chalk to lay out a shape maze on the playground or driveway. Choose a shape and hop from one to the next, or call out a different shape for every jump!

Learn more: Creative Family Fun

7. Assemble a truck from shapes

Cut out a variety of shapes (excellent scissors skills practice!), then assemble a series of trucks and other vehicles.

Learn more: Little Family Fun

8.

Teachers and kids love geoboards, and they’re a great tool for learning shapes. Give students example cards to follow, or ask them to figure out the method on their own.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station

9. Drive on shaped roads

Use these free printable road mats to work on shapes. Bonus: Make your own road shapes from sentence strips!

Learn more: PK Preschool Mom

10. Find shapes in nature

Take your shape hunt outside and look for circles, rectangles, and more in nature. For another fun activity, gather items and use them to make shapes too.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

11. Put together craft stick shapes

Add Velcro dots to the ends of wood craft sticks for quick and easy math toys. Write the names of each shape on the sticks for a self-correcting center activity.

Learn more: Surviving a Teacher’s Salary

12.

This is a STEM activity that’s sure to fascinate everyone. Make 3-D shapes from straws and pipe cleaners, then dip them in a bubble solution to create tensile bubbles. So cool!

Learn more: Babble Dabble Do

13. Prep a shape pizza

Cover a paper plate “pizza” with lots of shape toppings, then count the number of each. Simple, but lots of fun and very effective.

Learn more: Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures

14. Construct shapes from toothpicks and Play-Doh

This is an excellent STEM challenge: how many shapes can you make using toothpicks and Play-Doh? Marshmallows work well for this activity too.

Learn more: Childhood 101

15. Outline shapes with stickers

Kids adore stickers, so they’ll enjoy filling in the outlines of the shapes they’re learning. They won’t realize it, but this gives them fine motor skills practice too!

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Sticker Shapes

16.

Lacing cards have long been a classic, but we really like this version that uses drinking straws. Just cut them into pieces and glue them along the edges of the cards.

Learn more: Planning Playtime

17. Make shapes with LEGO bricks

LEGO math is always a winner! This activity also makes a good STEM challenge. Can your students figure out how to make a circle from straight-sided blocks?

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

18. Categorize shapes by their attributes

Work on geometry terms like “sides” and “vertices” when you sort shapes using these attributes. Start by placing shapes into paper bags and asking students questions like, “The shape in this bag has 4 sides. What could it be?”

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching

19. Count and graph shapes

These free printable worksheets challenge kids to identify shapes, then count and graph them. Lots of math skills, all in one!

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

20.

Add arms, legs, and faces to create cheery (or scary) shape monsters! These make for a fun classroom display.

Learn more: Fantastic Fun and Learning

21. Sift through rice for shapes

Sure, kids can identify their shapes by sight, but what about by touch? Bury blocks in a bowl of rice or sand, then have kids dig them out and guess the shape without seeing them first.

Learn more: Fun With Mama

22. Craft an ice cream cone

Ice cream cones are made up of several shapes. Encourage kids to see how many different ways they can make a sphere of “ice cream.”

Learn more: Extremely Good Parenting

23. Ask “What does the shape say?”

If you don’t mind the risk of getting that song stuck in your kids’ heads, this is such a neat way to combine writing and math.

Learn more: Around the Kampfire

24. Piece together shape puzzles

Use wood craft sticks to make simple puzzles for kids who are learning their shapes. These are inexpensive enough that you can make full sets for each of your students.

Learn more: Toddler at Play

25. Feed a shape monster

Turn paper bags into shape-eating monsters, then let kids fill their hungry bellies!

Learn more: Teach Pre-K

From teaching shapes to long division and everything in between, these are the 25 Must-Have Elementary Classroom Math Supplies You Can Count On.

Plus, 22 Active Math Games and Activities For Kids Who Love to Move.

27 Amazing Activities for Learning Shapes

Learning shapes is an early and important teaching concept. This is a terrific way to introduce children to problem-solving skills and pattern recognition. The learning of shapes prepares students for future math courses such as geometry. Check out these 27 amazing ideas for learning shapes!

Create your very own box of chocolates with a variety of shapes. Use a stencil to cut shapes from foam board. Draw basic shapes inside a heart drawing to represent a box of Valentine’s chocolates. Students will match the foam shapes to the drawings. This is a super activity for Valentine’s Day!

Learn more: Active Littles

Shape Bingo is a great idea for 3D shape practice! This fun activity is free and can be used in the classroom with the entire group or for classroom learning centers.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

For this engaging activity, use painter's tape to create outlines of shapes on the floor. Have your children hop from shape to shape. You can have them say the name of the shape once they hop into it. They can also throw beanbags into the shapes for more fun.

Learn more: Learn Play Imagine

Kids will absolutely love this shape activity. They will get to help make chocolate chip cookies shaped like X's and O's. Once they finish playing a few rounds of tic-tac-toe, they will have the opportunity to eat the delicious cookies!

Learn more: The Realistic Mama

This is a favorite shape sorter for 2 to 3-year-old children. You will need contact paper, scrapbook paper, and felt or foam shape pieces. You can make or own or purchase them.

Learn more: Happy to Shelf

Children love building snowmen, so they will have a blast with this free snowman-themed activity! Kids will learn about shapes as they match each snowman's head to its same shaped body.

Learn more: Tot Schooling

Cut out several shapes and create a piece of art as a classroom example. Next, give each student a stack of the same shapes and have them create the same masterpiece. When students have completed their artwork, you will have a fun classroom display!

Learn more: Raising the Spenglers

Marshmallow geometry is an engaging and fun activity for teaching children shapes. They will learn the names of 2D shapes as well as their characteristics. All you need is pretzel sticks, miniature marshmallows, markers, and card stock or construction paper.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

Children love these shape poems! These poems are free and allow students to be introduced to a variety of key shapes. Leave these displayed in your classroom for students to see on a daily basis.

Learn more: Miss Kindergarten

These free shape printables are a fun activity for shape identification for preschoolers and toddlers. They will learn to be successful at shape-matching while they strengthen their fine motor skills.

Learn more: Modern Preschool

Purchase wooden circles, a plastic ice tray, and shape stickers or colored paper cut in shapes. If you use colored paper, you will also need glue to attach the shapes to the wooden circles. Children will place the wooden circles in the correct spot on the tray.

Learn more: Mess for Less

The shapes monsters craft is so much fun for kids! They will learn about shapes and colors as they create their very own monsters. The only supplies you need are construction paper, glue, and scissors.

Learn more: Live Well Play Together

Teach children about the circle shape. You will need colored paper, scissors, and glue to complete this activity. Have the child cut out a large circle and many small circles. The child will then glue the smaller circles on the larger circle.

Learn more: Family Education

Using stories about shapes is a terrific way to teach kids all about shapes! They can learn about shape names with these books. This resource will help you find the perfect shape book to use with your child today!

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Using shape workbooks is a wonderful way to teach your children all about shapes. This workbook is created for preschoolers and offers shape guides, tracing, patterns, matching, activities, and much more. Buy yours today!

Learn more: Libro World

This simple shape puzzle is a DIY activity that is so easy to make. Your little one will enjoy playing with it over and over again as they learn all about basic shapes and their characteristics.

Learn more: Laughing Kids Learn

Preschoolers will love this shape activity, and it is so easy and inexpensive to create. Just draw some shapes on pieces of paper and have your child find real-life objects to match the shapes.

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

You and your child can venture out in nature and have your child pick up a few small sticks to create simple craft stick shapes. They will have a blast in nature as well as create these basic shapes.

Learn more: Toddler in Action

The little learners will have lots of sensory shape fun with this activity! These sensory bottles are super easy to make, and little ones can twist, flip, or shake the bottles to find the basic shapes. These bottles are perfect for center time or quiet time!

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

Little ones will enjoy making clouds out of shapes. This activity is simple to create; all you need is a shape printable, glue, and cotton balls. Let your little one create clouds of different shapes and have a blast doing so.

Learn more: Planning Playtime

This free resource provides 10 shapes printables that will help your child strengthen motor skills while learning all about shapes. Your child will use cooked spaghetti noodles to outline the shapes. They will have a tremendous amount of fun completing this activity!

Learn more: Schooltime Snippets

Kids will love this bubble wrap painting activity, and they will learn about shapes. They will have a blast popping the bubbles and painting different shape patterns. Your child will also develop fine motor skills as well as improve hand and eye coordination.

Learn more: Learning 4 Kids

Purchase a large tub of foam sticker shapes, so your child can create a shape rainbow. Draw the outline of a rainbow and put one shape of each color in a certain place on the rainbow outline and then allow your child to fill in the rest.

Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids

Are you searching for an engaging activity that will increase your child's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination? If so, this is the perfect activity. It will also teach your child about shapes and encourage the use of critical thinking skills.

Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids

This video will explain the preschool pipe cleaner shapes activity. This fabulous activity is perfect for 2-4-year-old children. It increases fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. Your child will also learn about shapes, colors, and counting.

Learn more: Zaneta The Work At Home Mama

Your child will learn about shapes while creating a cool robot! This engaging activity also develops cognitive skills and fine motor skills. Cut out the shapes and glue the robot together.

Learn more: Fun House Toys

Draw a variety of basic shapes on a coffee filter. Name a shape and have your child drip water over the correct shape. The shape will disappear, and you can move to the next shape. This activity is also terrific for fine motor practice!

Learn more: Gift of Curiosity

Determine your psychological type by geometric shapes

On New Year's Eve it is customary to take stock and make plans for the future. It is at this time that we often think - are we doing our own business at all, is it not time to change our occupation in the coming year.

Triangles - businessmen, Zigzags - creators

On New Year's Eve it is customary to take stock and make plans for the future. It is at this time that we often think - are we doing our own business at all, is it not time to change our occupation in the coming year. By the way, according to statistics, the peak of applications for dismissal falls precisely on the period after the New Year holidays. We decided to help you check which activity suits you best. Well, draw your own conclusions. nine0003

Job. Look carefully at the geometric shapes, feel your own, about which you can say: "It's me!". Mark it with number 1, and then number the rest of the images in order of your preference. Figure No. 5 should suit you the least.

Evaluating the results

So, you have ordered the figures. Figure No 1 defines your main character traits and behaviors. The other four only color your behavior. Moreover, their influence decreases with increasing serial number. nine0003

Square If you have chosen a square as your main shape, then you are a tireless worker! You are diligent, feel the need to bring the work you have started to the end and always finish it. Such qualities as endurance, patience and methodicalness make the Square a highly qualified specialist in any field of activity. Such a person is able to collect, systematize, instantly issue and apply information. He is considered a polymath, at least in his field.

The strength of the Square is mental analysis. He "calculates" the result rather than guesses about it. The smallest details of any project will not escape his attention. He is able to work through any ideas that representatives of other geometric shapes often offer. The square lives according to routine, he does not like "surprises" and changes in the usual course of events. Therefore, he constantly “orders”, organizes people and things around him. These features allow the Square to become an excellent administrator, performer, but, unfortunately, not a businessman, manager. It would seem that he has all the data to become an entrepreneur, but they do not allow him to achieve heights in this occupation. Passion for details, the constant need for additional information to make a decision do not allow the Square to act quickly. And the passion for accuracy, order and accepted rules simply paralyze his determination. Emotional dryness and coldness prevent the Square from finding a common language with people. But if he works in a stable organization in which clear requirements are formulated and clear instructions for action are given, the Square will take its place in the sun, and much more successfully than representatives of other figures. nine0003

Triangle. This figure symbolizes leadership. Therefore, the Triangle is a strong personality. He is decisive, energetic, unstoppable, sets clear goals and, as a rule, achieves them. This distinguishes it from the Square.

He knows how to analyze the current situation in detail, he is well versed in details, but, unlike the Square, he knows how to concentrate on the main thing, to determine the essence of the problem.

Triangle - a very confident person who constantly tries to prove his case in everything, admits his mistakes with great difficulty, does not like to change decisions, is categorical, does not recognize objections and in most cases acts in his own way. Intolerant of those who hesitate in making a decision, not afraid to take risks. He is programmed to win, win, succeed. nine0003

The triangle is ambitious. Strives to achieve a high position, to obtain a high status, in other words, to make a career. He is not interested in quality, it is important to stay on the laurels of glory, and how he won this glory - it does not matter to him.

The triangle can become a great manager, entrepreneur. A hundred kilometers away, he smells a good deal and, in the struggle for it, he can push his competitors head-on. And why not, because he knows how to perfectly weave intrigues. In general, scrupulousness is not his quality. On the way to the goal, he does not comply with moral standards and can go to it, regardless of others. But all this does not apply to all Triangles. In their mass, these are very nice, attractive people who make everything and everyone revolve around themselves and without whom the lives of other people would lose their sharpness. nine0003

Rectangle. It symbolizes the state of transition and change. This is, as it were, a temporary form of personality that the other four figures can have at some time in their lives.

The rectangle is often in a state of confusion, confusion, uncertainty about itself. He is dissatisfied with the way of life that he is now leading, and therefore is busy looking for a better position. The rectangle is inconsistent and unpredictable in actions while it is in search of another status. His mood changes greatly from day to day and even within one day. He has low self-esteem, strives to become better at something, looks for new methods of work, tries to change his lifestyle. This behavior alarms others, they do not understand this person, so they try to avoid contact with him. But the Rectangle itself needs to communicate with other people. In spite of everything, the Rectangle also has positive character traits that can attract other people: courage, curiosity, perseverance, interest in everything that happens. True, this is often used by dishonest people. nine0003

The rectangle should remember that its negative aspects and failures in life are temporary. All bad things will go away, and he will reach a new level of personal development, enriched by the experience gained at this stage.

Round. This figure is a mythological symbol of harmony. The Circle Man is genuinely interested in good interpersonal relationships. For him, the most important thing is the well-being of people. The circle is the most benevolent of all shapes. It is he who holds the team, family, loved ones together. True, at the same time he is indecisive, inconsistent, too soft. Although the last statement lives in it for the time being: the Circle is able to show enviable firmness when it comes to moral issues or violations of justice. The circle is very sensitive, capable of empathy. He feels both someone else's joy and someone else's pain. He is respected by those around him, drawn to him. The circle is distinguished by amazing intuition, perfectly “sees”, feels people. He can instantly recognize a dishonorable person, a pretender, a deceiver. But a leader will never come out of him, and business is not the way of the Circle. nine0003

The Circle hates conflict. He is ready to be the first to yield in everything, so long as there is no quarrel. Reconciliation is the main line of his behavior. This feature of nature has both positive and negative sides: of course, such a character trait gives pleasure to others and makes the Circle popular among relatives and colleagues, but too frequent concessions can lead to the Circle losing respect for itself.

The circle is at odds with logic. He focuses on subjective factors and seeks to find common ground even in opposing points of view. According to psychologists, this is a behavior that unites all views, and everyone likes it. So we can say that the Circle is a born psychologist. nine0003

Zigzag. This shape - a symbol of creativity - is the only open figure out of five. If you have firmly chosen the zigzag as the main shape, then you are characterized by imagery, intuitiveness, mosaicism. Strictness and consistency is not your style. That is why it is difficult for representatives of other forms to understand you.

Zigzag does not concentrate on details, and this allows him to build complete, harmonious images, to see beauty. He is creative. He will achieve success in various fields of art. Zigzag does not make concessions in conflict situations, on the contrary, he sharpens them and in this sharpness finds a way out of the situation. He likes to "open the eyes of others" to the possibility of a new solution. nine0003

Representatives of this form perceive the world as constantly changing. Nothing is more boring to them than templates, rules and regulations, and people always agreeing or pretending to agree. They cannot work for many years in one place, they are annoyed by the regime that is established in organizations, fixed responsibilities and monotonous work. They strive to be independent of others in their work. Only then are they able to gush with ideas. When they have a new interesting idea, they are ready to share it with the whole world. But their intemperance and expressiveness (“cut the truth in the eye”), along with eccentricity, often prevent them from embodying their ideas. Often their enthusiasm is broken against closed doors, they cool down and do not realize their plans. Other people find Zigzags sexually attractive. nine0003

N. Olshevskaya's book "Psychological tests for every day" was used in preparing the material.

"Journey to the country of geometric shapes" - MBDOU "Child Development Center" elementary mathematical concepts

Subject: "Journey to the land of geometric shapes"

Medium group.

Purpose: Consolidation and systematization of knowledge children about geometric shapes: circle, square, triangle, oval, rectangle.

Tasks : To teach how to use children's knowledge about properties of objects (shape, color, size), apply skill to solve easy tasks.

Develop memory, attention, imagination, logical thinking.

Continue develop constructive thinking in children, the ability to think, reason, tell your opinion. nine0003

Educate autonomy desire to help.

Methodological support: medallions with geometric shapes, writing, photographs of animals from geometric shapes, geometric shapes, fairyland princess, task cards, didactic games.

Integration areas: knowledge, artistic creativity, constructive activity, health, security, socialization

HOD

Distributed knock on the door.

Educator: Yes, yes, come in! Strange, no one comes in. (Opens the door) no one is there. And what is it? (Envelope, letter.)

Educator: I wonder who it's for. Guys, let's read the address on the envelope.

- Novy settlement, Kindergarten "Rosinka" Children of the middle group "Bells". Wonder who from same this letter. Want to know what's in it? Let's read it. nine0003

“Dear guys! Help, help!"

- Guys, someone needs our help. What should we do? Let's read the letter.

-Dear guys, misfortune happened in our country of "Geometric figures", an evil wizard brought disorder to our country, mixed everything up. Stopped sounding funny music. And for our country, this is unacceptable. And in order to put things in order, you need to complete his tasks. And the tasks are very complex, but you are smart, savvy, quick-witted children and will be able to help us help. In order for you to be able to enter our country, I am sending you magical medallions that will help you complete tasks and take you to a magical country. nine0003

Educator: Children, and you Do you like to travel? (Yes!)

- Then let's go! Put on your magic medallions, stand in a circle, join hands and close your eyes.

- One, two, three, fly to the magical land!

(Children open their eyes and see a real mess, scattered geometric shapes)

Educator: Here we are geometric shapes, there is such silence. Here is the mess. What it is? (Geometric figures. ) nine0003

- Which ones?

(Children call geometric shapes)

-Let's guys we will put things in order here with you, we will choose and take for ourselves the same geometric the figure that you have on the medallion and place it in the house from which she ran away. Let's count the houses. How many of them. What geometric shapes are pasted on the roof of these houses. On the first, second, third ...

-So they pointed okay, well done guys!

- Guys, look, what happened here?

- Everything is clear, lost geometric figures. Guys, let's put everything together together on our own places.

Conducted didactic game "Fill the empty cells."

- Well, well done folks!

- Guys, listen, someone is crying. Someone is calling us help. The crying comes from here. Come on guys let's see who's there crying?

- On envelope it is written: "Help, help, gather us soon. " (The teacher takes out geometric shapes and portraits of the inhabitants of this country)

- How beautiful, unusual inhabitants live in this country, let's help them. (Children collect from geometric figures of inhabitants)

-But they are some sad, what else happened to them?

-They say that the evil wizard destroyed their houses, what to do?

- Make new houses.

-What are we made of shall we make them? (from geometric shapes) What?

Let's build houses in the lower right corner . (Children make and glue houses)

-A to get to this house, the guys will draw you a plan - a map.

- Residents thank you guys and invite you to play an interesting game: “Let's inflate ball".

Conducted Mobile - health-improving game: "Let's inflate the ball."

Children take hands and stand, tightly clinging to each other. Holding hands, the children do inhale deeply through the nose and exhale through the mouth, as if inflating a balloon.

- The balloon is inflated. (2-3 times) Let's turn the circle into an oval. What needs to be done for this? (Step to the center of the circle). Again circle. (2-3 times) and so on.

- Triangle. Stand in pairs, put your hands on each other's shoulders, make a square, take a step back, you get a rectangle.

- Well done! (Citizens give children a magical envelope that you can only open at home in the group.)

- Well, now It's time for us to go back to kindergarten. But as we will return to kindergarten, because we do not know the way back, let's Do you remember how we got here? nine0003

- Let's let's all join hands and say the magic words: one, two, three, four, five - in Kindergarten fly again. (Children repeat the magic words) and open their eyes.

- Here we go again returned to their favorite group. Open a gift from the inhabitants of a magical land. Review and complete the task.

- Let's sit down on the rug more comfortably and share our impressions of the amazing country geometric shapes.

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