Wonderworks: Shapes

Shapes are one of our earliest math experiences, let's play with them!

Math Project: Exploring Shapes!
Supplies:
masking tape
foam shapes
water
rice krispie treats
simple shaped cookie cutters
wooden blocks
playdough
shapes page (laminated, if possible)

Book:
  Round is a mooncake : a book of shapes / Thong, Roseanne 

Set-up:  I made a batch of  (thin) Rice Krispy treats the night before class.  The day of class, I outlined a triangle and a rectangle on the floor in colored masking tape.
 

What Kids Do: 

walk/hop around the shapes on the floor

 trace the shapes in playdough snakes

 or try to fill the shapes with playdough

 cut out circle, triangle or square rice krispy treats

 stuck foam shapes to our door (a smooth, flat, waterproof surface) with water

 built with blocks

 (I challenged the most advanced students to try to re-create the designs from Pat Hutchins' Changes, Changes, but they mostly just wanted to free-build which was fine.)

 Variations to try: 

--hide a block of each shape (or foam shapes) in a bag and have kids pick out shapes from the shapes page by feel.
--flannel board shapes play
--have kids draw shapes in the air with ribbons (hold a ribbon and swing it in the shape of a circle, for instance)

Related recommended apps (both free!):
Play 1-2-3, Plic Ploc Wiz