SPECIAL
SHAPES FUN SPECIAL
SHAPES FUN
From
Stormie:
Cubes: Introduce the word
"cube" to the class, show pictures of cubes, have real cubes available for inspection
(blocks, for example), and take a walk looking for cubes. Ask the children
what shape they see on cubes? (Squares.) Provide square boxes for
painting and decorating. At Snacktime, allow children to place square
"cubes" of ice into their drinks.
Triangle Statues: Each time you buy a framed print for your home, save those cardboard ends they put over the four corners of the frames. They stand alone and children love decorating them.
Shape Stencils: Make your own shape stencils by cutting them from styrofoam trays. Or, for the most fun, let children cut out their own stencils in any shape they choose (the cardboard or styrofoam must be thin for them to be able to cut it).
Do activities with the shape of a "crescent."
Pam Bruns Works,
from Topeka, Kansas suggests this book: Museum
Shapes [Museum of Fine Arts-Boston], By Gisela Voss:This
is my absolute favorite shape review board book for preschoolers! This book
is designed to review 10 basic shapes, and allowing children to find the
basic shapes in famous works of art that are located at the Museum of Fine Arts
in Boston, Mass. The color photographs are exquisite, and eye-catching to
even the youngest of preschoolers. This is a must-have book for both educators
and parents (and a great gift idea as well)! ISBN: 0-87846-368-2
This
idea was submitted by Shelley Erickson, from Kansas that she got from the
"Parents as Teachers Association": I put cups inside my husbands large
socks. Inside the cups I put game pieces in the shapes of squares, triangles,
and circles. The kids stuck their hands inside the socks and tried to guess
what shapes they were feeling before pulling them out.
Stormie's
Variation: If the pieces aren't flat, but are shaped like "cubes, pyramids,
and spheres," you could introduce these new fun words and point out how the cubes
are made of squares, the pyramids are made of triangles, and the spheres are round
like circles.
This
great idea was submitted by Misty, from McGehee, Arkansas: A fun way to
review shapes is to give children saltine crackers for snack and let them see
how many shapes they can make from them.
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Reminder
from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom
ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you
can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
to check them out.
