Materials
long strip of white cardboard
tape
shapes printed onto white cardstock
crayons
child-safe scissors
glue sticks
paper clips
small magnets
string
small bamboo garden canes
Instructions
l Bend a long strip of cardboard into a circular "fishpond." Tape its ends
together.
l Make fishing poles by cutting a length of string, tying and gluing it around
small magnets, and tying the other end of the string to one end of the
bamboo cane.
l Print the outlines of various shapes on white cardstock.
What to Do
1. Set out crayons, as well as the pieces of cardstock with the shapes drawn on
them. Encourage the children to color the shapes or draw faces on them.
2. Next, help the children cut out the shapes. Encourage the children to identify
the shapes as they color and cut them out.
3. While each child glues one of his shapes onto the fishpond to decorate it, slide
a paper clip onto each colored shape. Older children may be able to do this
independently.
4. Give each child a fishing pole and show him how he can use the magnets to
pick up shapes.
5. Let the children take turns fishing out a shape until the fishpond is empty.
6. Challenge older children to count how many shapes they have altogether, then
how many of each shape.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
l A short fishing pole will be easier for the children to manipulate.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Can the children identify all the shapes they cut out?
l Can the children sort their "fish" into shapes piles without mistakes?
l Can the children count the shapes accurately?
