What you need:
The Shape of Things by Dayle Ann Dobbs
Covered box
Square, triangular, and circular objects or foam shapes
Square, triangular, circular shapes printouts
Shape puppets printouts
Shape binocular
Paper roll for each child
Objectives:
Children will learn about the attributes of different shapes.
Children will differentiate between squares, triangles, and circles.
Note: This lesson can be divided into several lessons.
Tell children that they will be learning about shapes. To introduce children to the basic shapes of triangles, circles, squares, and rectangles, read the book The Shape of Things by Dayle Ann Dobbs or another book about shapes.
Before beginning the lesson, place the paper shapes in a variety of colors and sizes around the room on the wall or other places where they can be seen from the circle. To begin the lesson, show children the box. Say, “I have three objects in this box. Let’s take a look at one of the objects.” Take out the square object. Ask, “Can you tell me what shape this object is? That’s right this is a square. Can you tell me why this is a square?” Let children share what they know about squares. Then say, “Yes, a square has four sides that are the same length, and it also has four corners.” Introduce Sammy Square to children and place it on the felt board or magnet board.
Take out the shape binocular and explain that we will go on a shape spy hunt around the room. Show the different shapes on the binocular and hand out a paper roll to each child. Ask children, “Can you find a square shape in the room?" Ask one child to describe and name the location of one of the triangle shapes. Have the other children find the same square. “Can you find some more?” Let children look through the paper roll to find the square shapes in the room.