Math Skill: Shapes

Age: 4 - 5

Number of students: 4

Content standards: 4.PK.1a Identify circles, triangles, and squares.

4.PK.1b Begin to recognize two and three dimensional shapes in the environment.

Objectives: After this activity, students should be able to

1. Distinguish different shapes all around them

2. One-on-one correspondence

3. Eye-hand coordination

Materials: glue, paper plates, paper cut outs of different shapes

Activity: Sit the children around while I read the book “Shape by Shape” by Suse Macdon-

ald. Instead of saying the shapes out loud, wait for the students to say it. Help them if they do not

know what the shape is as some shapes would be harder to recognize. After reading the book,

bring out the materials and set it in the middle of the table within the students’ reach.

Tell the students to take ONE paper plate per student and one glue. Tell the students that

in this activity, we will be learning shapes and make a face using the cut out shapes. Ask the stu-

dents if they know which shapes are what and what they could make out of it. Show and named

all the shapes that was available and place it in a way where they are able to see that I am able to

create a face.

Ask the students about the shapes and what does it remind of them. Then proceed to

show them how to make a face and tell them to make their own!
What happened: All the children were pretty good at the basic shapes when I was reading

the book. They did have a hard time with the crescent and semi-circle which was not a surprise

as it is rather confusing when those two are right next to each other. I just had to spend a little

more time trying to help them learn the difference between the two shapes. One looks like a

smile and the other looks like a frown.

With the activity part, the students also did a great job saying the already cut shapes. I

thought I would have a hard time trying to build a face using paper and glue with them but the

students did a really great job. They seemed to know what they were doing and they seemed to

be having fun. Some did not really looked like faces, and others wanted to make something else

instead of a face since the book was about a dinosaur. Therefore, a couple students wanted to

make animals instead of faces. They managed to create something else other than faces, on the

other hand.

What next: Since I was only doing the basic shapes, I think that I should find an easier book

to accompany this type of lesson/activity. The book that I chose had shapes that are quite com-

plex for their little minds. The next time I do this lesson, I will stick with basic shapes such as

circle, square, triangle, rectangle, etc.

Title: Shape by Shape

Author: Suse Macdonald

Use of math concept: students will be able to learn shapes

Recommendation: I would most definitely recommend this book… to students that are a little

older. Maybe kindergarten and not pre-k. I found that some shapes were somewhat complicated

for some students to learn still.