Welcome to the fun world of shapes! Teaching shapes to preschoolers helps them understand their surroundings while building early math skills, improving letter and number recognition, and enhancing spatial awareness. Plus, exploring shapes through play boosts creativity and problem-solving skills. Get ready for some exciting ideas to make learning shapes a playful adventure!
Print the Shape Pumpkin. Have the child color, count, and write the number of shapes on the lines. Later in the week, allow the child to create her own Shape Pumpkin on the second page of the printable. idea from Amy
Draw three-quarters of a shape and invite the child to complete the shape by drawing a line to close it and then color it in. This activity helps develop important visual perception skill.
You can create the shape on paper or explore different textures by drawing it in sand, finger paint, or even pudding.
Create a shape family by crafting each shape out of construction paper. Fold long, thin pieces of paper accordion-style to form legs and arms, then glue them to the shape. Add a face using the shape for the eyes and nose. You can also include shoes, hands, hair, or other accessories to personalize each member of the shape family.
Designate 1-2 players as shape "hiders." These players will hide the shapes (various shaped blocks, flashcards, or puzzle pieces) in a designated area while the remaining players close their eyes. When hidden, make sure the shapes are partially visible but still somewhat concealed.
Once all the shapes are hidden, the seekers open their eyes and start searching for the shapes. When the seeker finds a shape, they call out the name of the shape they found and pick it up. If playing with multiple seekers, they can compete to find the most shapes or take turns searching.
Print two copies of the Shape Flashcards. Shuffle the flashcards and lay them face down in a grid formation on a table or flat surface. The first player flips over two cards, trying to find a matching pair of shapes. If the shapes match, the player keeps the pair and gets another turn. If not, the cards are turned face down again, and it's the next player's turn.
Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to remember where each shape is located. The game continues until all pairs are matched. The player with the most pairs of matching shapes at the end of the game wins!
Create shapes out of Tinker Toys, blocks, or painter's tape on the ground. Throw bean bags into the "called" shape.
Place a few Shape Flashcards on the floor. Give the child a clean fly swatter and call out a shape for them to find and swat! To keep those enthusiastic swatters in check, set some rules like saying "Swatters up!" to listen for the called shape. When the shape is found, have the child swat and freeze until told to move.
Look for shapes in everyday objects together. You can point them out during conversations with examples like, “Please open the rectangular door,” or “What shape is this orange?”
Print and cut apart the free Shape Flashcards to use with Shape Walks, recognition, and play ideas on this page.
Print two copies of the Shape Flashcards. Deal 4 cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in a pile in the center. The player to the left of the dealer starts and asks another player if they have a specific shape flashcard they need to complete a pair (e.g., "Do you have a square?"). If the other player has the requested shape, they must give it to the asking player. If the asking player receives the requested card, they get to place the pair down and take another turn. If not, they must "Go Fish" and draw a card from the pile.
If the drawn card is the one they asked for, they can place the pair down. If not, their turn ends. Play moves clockwise, with each player taking turns asking for specific shape cards or drawing from the pile until all pairs are formed. The game ends when all pairs are formed. The player with the most pairs of shapes is the winner!
Take shape blocks or the Shape Flashcards on a scavenger hunt around the house or outdoors. Encourage your child to find objects that match each shape on the cards. This is a fun and engaging way to reinforce shape recognition!
This activity is included in the 2-4 Year Curricula.
Use pretzel sticks or toothpicks and large marshmallows to recreate the flashcard shapes. Poke the ends of the sticks into the marshmallows to hold the shapes together.
Using play dough or cookie dough, cut various shapes using shape cookie cutters or a knife.
• Cut toast or pancake into various shapes.
• Eat various shaped crackers at snack time to review shapes.
Help your little ones master shapes with our vibrant and fun shape flashcards—perfect for preschoolers! These engaging cards make learning interactive and enjoyable. Click the link below to download your free set today and watch your child's shape recognition skills grow!
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh is a playful story where three little mice discover various shapes and use them to build different objects, like houses and trees, while cleverly avoiding a sneaky cat. Through their creative exploration, children learn about shapes, colors, and problem-solving in a fun and engaging way. It’s a sweet and simple book that makes learning shapes feel like a delightful adventure!
All Shapes Matter by Chakra Sreekanth introduces children to the world of shapes while promoting messages of diversity and inclusion. Through vibrant illustrations and simple storytelling, it shows how every shape has a unique role, encouraging young readers to appreciate differences and work together.
This Is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel introduces children to basic shapes like squares, circles, and triangles in a simple, playful way. As the story progresses, unexpected elements are humorously added, like an emu pushing a pancake wagon or a rhino wearing jetpack, adding a touch of surprise while keeping the focus on learning shapes.
Big Box of Shapes by Wiley Blevins is a colorful, playful story that follows three friends as they use various shapes to build imaginative creations. With simple text and bright illustrations, children learn to recognize shapes like circles, squares, and triangles while seeing how they come together to make fun objects like rockets and robots. It’s a perfect book for sparking creativity and making learning about shapes an adventure!
My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle introduces young children to basic shapes through colorful illustrations and simple text. Its split-level design makes it interactive allowing preschoolers to match the shape with familiar objects.
Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Greenfield Thong celebrates shapes through a vibrant exploration of Latino culture. Using everyday objects like tortillas, tortillas, and estrellas (stars), the book introduces children to shapes while weaving in cultural elements and Spanish vocabulary. It's a joyful and colorful way to learn shapes while appreciating the beauty of Latino traditions and language.
In Tangled: A Story About Shapes, Anne Miranda shares a fun, rhyming story about sixteen geometric shapes that get tangled in a jungle gym. Their friend helps them untangle, restoring order and showing the importance of teamwork. It’s a playful way to introduce shapes to young readers!
Because 16 geometric shapes are discussed in this book, I would suggest for elementary age.
Walter's Wonderful Web by Ruth Heller is such a delightful read for little ones! The story follows Walter, a clever spider who spins a beautiful web, introducing kids to different shapes along the way.
Llama Llama Shapes introduces young readers to shapes with the beloved character Llama Llama. Through simple, engaging illustrations, Llama explores different shapes while visiting the Farmers Market with Mama, making it easy for preschoolers to recognize circles, squares, triangles, and more. Count the shapes and discover how many are on each page.
Bulldozer's Shapes: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Ethan Long is a charming bedtime story that combines construction fun with learning about shapes. As the hardworking bulldozer and his friends wind down for the night, they explore different shapes found in their busy construction site.
Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham is a playful and unexpected adventure in learning shapes, featuring the mischievous Moose who can’t resist jumping into a book about shapes. Moose’s antics disrupt the orderly world of circles, squares, and triangles, bringing humor and surprises on every page.
All Printables Free for Immediate Family Use or with an Active License Only
Embark on a kaleidoscope of learning with our Shape Packet. Bursting with vibrant colors and endless opportunities for creativity, this printable resource invites children on a rememberable educational journey.
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