Materials
small geometric blocks (or other small traceable shapes)
pencils
white paper
crayons or markers
Instructions
1. Explain to the children that basic shapes form most things in our world.
Demonstrate by drawing a house made from a triangle and a square. Point out
these shapes to the children using terms like "angles," "points," and "curves."
2. Ask the children to help you look around the room for basic shapes.
3. Provide each child with a handful of various blocks.
4. Ask the children to place the blocks on the paper, making specific shapes, and
then trace around the blocks.
5. They can add extra details and color with the crayons.
6. Encourage the children to share and discuss what they are doing with each
other. Ask questions such as, "What makes a triangle a good shape for a roof?"
or "I wonder why you used a circle for a face."
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
l Tracing will leave pencil marks on the blocks. Either use old blocks or ones
made with easily cleaned surfaces.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Can the children name the shapes they are using?
l Can the children pair shapes in many combinations?
l Can the children state properties of shapes (for example, "circles are smooth
and round")?
