Below is a flow chart of activities listed in the order that would
be taught concerning shapes.
1. Introduction of Circles
(activity sheet attached)
2. Introduction of Squares
(activity sheet attached)
3. Introduction of Triangles
(activity sheet attached) Story of triangle- A Triangle Tale Paper
fold a square into a triangle. Use color paper squares, cut one into four
triangles and duplicate pattern quilts for child to model for each other.
4.Introduction of Rectangles
Feely Bag- Child reaches in bag that is filled with all four shapes
and tries to identify the shape (rectangle) that is different (not previously
taught).
Train Game- Using attribute blocks, children take turns adding a shape
to the train changing 1, 2, or 3 attributes verbalizing the different attributes.
5. Integrated Activity Shapes on Animals
Child sorts animal cards / sticks according to the shape they see in
the animal's body using sorting mats. Then, they classify the animal by
placing the card / sticks in the environment that animal lives in. The
two habitats used will be the ocean and the exotic or wild.
6. Other Activities
Tangrams- After children have a knowledge base of the four basic shapes,
they can work individually or in small groups and complete pictures using
tangram pieces.
Straw Shape Mobiles- Child uses straws to form triangles, rectangles,
and squares The Circle can be made by tracing a large circle shape such
as a lid to a plastic container, etc. and attached to the top of the mobile.
Pattern Blocks- As an extension, the child would use these for copying
designs, patterns, games, problem solving, and graphing.
Pentominoes- The child will be able to recognize the pentomino even
when it is rotated or flipped. The child will also learn to fold pentominoes
to make boxes.
Major Materials/equipment requirements:
Attribute blocks
Pattern blocks
Tangrams
Pentominoes
Scrap paper/ glue
Flannel board
Feely bag
Shaped journal
Three dimensional shapes
Habitat drawings
Craft sticks, clay, sorting mats, animal stickers, and index cards
Flexible straws, clear tape, tagboard, yarn and paper clips.
The class has been asked to make pictures to display in the lobby of
a hotel, one of our Partners in Education. Each child is to make a picture
using each shape taught (square, circle, rectangle, and triangle). Then
the child will make a border around the picture depicting a pattern. After
completing the picture, the child tells the teacher about the picture using
terms taught. The teacher uses a checklist to assess the child's understanding
of each of the four shapes.
Assessment for Performance Assessment Task:
Name Reproduces Names Name a place Describes Pattern
Cir Sq Tri Rec Cir Sq Tri Rec Cir Sq Tri Rec Cir Sq Tri Rec
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
In scoring, a sticker indicates that the child could reproduce, name,
name a place the shape can be found, or describe all of the shapes. (a
sticker would be placed under each column) The column, describing the shapes
would be considered extra credit since this skill is not required in kindergarten.
In the last column the child would be asked to make a pattern on the border
of their picture. The teacher would write (draw) the shape(s) in each column
after each child's name that did not master the skill.
Scoring Rubric:
9-12 points Rectangle
5-8 points Angle
1-4 points Line Segment
Activities with Circles:
Introduction of unit with story, Spilt Milk
Have children write in journals about circles
Bring to school from home a circle to tell about in group share time
Make pictures with circles
Match circles to worksheet (one size of circle)
Match circles to worksheet (three sizes of circles)
Story of circles
Circle hunt in classroom
Circle hunt in school
Circle hunt on playground
Circle hunt on walk in wooded area
Art prints using natural material with circles
Write class story of circles in group
Find circles in feely bags or cans and describe
Circles,cylinders, and spheres
Classifying, sorting, and graphing circles
Collages with circles
Activities with Squares:
Have children write in journals about squares
Bring to school from home a square to tell about in group share time
Make pictures with squares
Match squares to worksheet (one size of square)
Match squares to worksheet (three sizes of squares)
Story of squares
Square hunt in classroom
Square hunt in school
Square hunt on playground
Square hunt on walk in wooded area
Art prints using natural material with squares
Write class story of squares in group
Find squares in feely bags of cans and describe
Squares and cubes
Classifying, sorting, and graphing squares
Collages with squares
Make a square with pentominoes
Activities with Triangles:
Have children write in journals about triangles.
Bring to school from home a triangle to tell about in group time
Make pictures with triangles
Match triangles to worksheet (one size of triangle)
Match triangles to worksheet (three sizes of triangles)
Story of triangles
Triangle hunt in classroom
Triangle hunt in school
Triangle hunt on playground
Triangle hunt on walk in wooded area
Art prints using natural material with triangles
Write class story of triangles in group
Find triangles in feely bags or cans and describe
Triangles and pyramids
Classifying, sorting, and graphing triangles
Collages with triangles
Make quilt squares using triangles
Activities with Rectangles:
Have children write in journals about rectangles
Bring to school from home a rectangle to tell about in group share
time
Make pictures with rectangles
Match pictures with rectangles
Match rectangles to worksheet (one size of rectangle)
Match rectangles to worksheet (three sizes of rectangles)
Story of rectangles
Rectangle hunt in classroom
Rectangle hunt in school
Rectangle hunt on playground
Rectangle hunt on walk in wooded area
Art prints using natural material with rectangle
Write class story of rectangles in group
Find rectangles in feely bags or cans and describe
Rectangles, cubes, and boxes
Classifying, sorting, and graphing rectangles
Resources:
Burns, Marilyn, The I Hate Mathematics Book! Little, Brown,
and Company, Boston, 1975.
Childcraft - Volume 13 Math, 1981.
Goodnow, Judy, Math Discoveries with Tangrams, K-1, Ideal
School Supply, Oak Lawn, Illinois, 1994.
Hoogeboom, Shirley, Math Discoveries with Pattern Blocks, Ideal
School Supply, Oak Lawn, Illinois, 1994.