I’ve Seen That Shape Before

Kindergarten Activities to Explore Shapes in the Real World

Kindergarten Standards2009-2010

LanguageGLE 0001.1.3 Develop and maintain phonological awareness.

ScienceGLE 0007.Inq.1 Observe the world of familiar objects using the senses and tools.

Geometry and MeasurementGLE 0006.4.1 Interpret and describe the physical world with geometric ideas and vocabulary.

GLE 0006.4.2 Use positional terms to specify locations with simple relationships.

CommunicationGLE 0001.2.1 Develop critical listening skills essential for comprehension, problem solving, and task completion.

GLE 0001.2.2 Develop critical speaking skills essential for effective communication.

CommunityBuilder

It’s in the Bag

Taxonomy

Shape and Color Sorting in Small

Groups

Quiet MouseActivity

Shape Hunt

Power Point

Identify Shapes with Syllables using Picture

Cards

Shape Placement Around the

Room

Shape Riddles Going on a Shape Hunt and

Shape Hunt Chant

Extension 1

Alike and Different

Extension 2

Web Sites for Centers

Extension 3

Shape Hunt Outside

ProcessingProcessingProcessingPrimingPriming

Processing Retaining forMastery

Community Builder

It’s in the BagDuring this community builder activity, students will recognize and name basic geometric shapes and learn the names of partners in their cooperative groups. Use different shapes or one shape of different colors to place in a bag. Each student pulls a shape from the bag. Form groups according to the shape selected. Model for students how to introduce themselves to the partners in their team by using the sentence frame…”Hello, my name is ____________. I have a ____________ ____________ (color, shape).

Taxonomy

Shape and Color Sorting

Students work cooperatively in small groups to sort and classify a variety of basic geometric shapes and real world objects. During the activity, the teacher will observe and document performance. Continue to add pictures for sorting throughout the unit to assess new knowledge and to evaluate the objectives.

“Quiet Mouse Shape Hunt”

To help students become familiar with their classroom setting, the teacher will model locating items that correspond to geometric shapes. During the whole group activity, the teacher will show pictures of classroom objects for students to identify that match a particular shape.

Keyboard keys

table

book

table

television

Shapes and Sounds all Around

To reinforce phonological awareness skills and help students pronounce the academic vocabulary words correctly, students will clap syllables. The teacher will show pictures of the objects found in the classroom. The students will name the geometric shape associated with the objects and clap the syllables.

Shapes in and Shapes Out

The teacher will reinforce position words by placing shapes in different locations in the classroom as new shapes are introduced. Students will name the shape relative to an object in the classroom, e.g., the yellow rectangle is on the door, the red square is below the marker board.

At the end of the unit students will work with a partner to practice listening and speaking skills by giving directions on how to find shapes on the wall using position words.

Shape RiddlesTommy Triangle is the name for me

Count my sides one, two, three.

Cindy Circle watch me bend

Round and round from end to end.

Ricky Rectangle is my name.

My four sides are not the same.

Two are short and two are long.

Count my sides, come right along.

Sandy Square is my name.

My four sides are the same.

Count one and then count more.

Count to two, to three, and then to four.

Turn me around, I don’t care.

I’m always the same. I’m Sandy Square.

Shape Hunt Chant

Going on a shape hunt,

Leaving right away.

If it doesn’t rain,

We’ll stay all day.

Teacher: Do you see a circle?

Student: Yes, we see a circle.

Going on a shape hunt,

Here we go!

Shape Hunt

Take a walk inside or outside to identify shapes in real world objects. Give each student a matrix with different geometric shapes. During the walk students will draw or “drwrite” objects that match the shapes. They will return to their small groups and share with partners what they found on the hunt.

Additional Activities

Alike and Different– Attributes, e.g. sides, corners, size, round.

– Flat or solid figure

Internet sites and resource links

-Click on the triangle to get to Thinkfinity.org activities

-Click on the stop sign to get to Nettracker.com activities