Using Geo-boards to help teach students about shapes is a simple, hands-on approach. Geo-boards are flat boards with rounded tips sticking up from the surface. Students use rubber bands to wrap around the different spikes to create different shapes. For your lesson plan, introduce the different shapes to your students with pictures and diagrams. Demonstrate how to make a square using the Geo-board. The band should wrap around the same number of spikes on each side of the square. This makes a perfect square. Have your students repeat this shape on their Geo-board. Allow them to make many different shapes using the boards. Walk around and observe to assess student learning.
Consider using a lesson plan that incorporates shapes in art. Beginning art students benefit greatly from learning how to draw shapes. Post the different shapes up in your classroom. Demonstrate to students how to combine many different shapes to create a picture. A house, for example, is one of the simplest pictures to draw using shapes. The house itself is square, the roof is a triangle, and the chimney and door are rectangles. You can gradually move up to more difficult pictures.
Try an arts and crafts project with your students. The focus of the lesson should be on shapes. Bring in several different 3D Styrofoam shapes. Some appropriate shapes include: cones, cubes, spheres and pyramids. Discuss these shapes with students. Have your students create an interesting figure using the shapes. They can use glue or toothpicks to hold the pieces together. They can make clowns, trees, animals or whatever else they can imagine. Set out washable craft paint so your students can paint their creations. When the paint dries, add googly eyes, feathers, glitter and any other craft item desired.
Wikki Stix are colored pieces of tacky string. They are often used in educational settings. Use them in a geometric shape lesson plan to teach your students about shapes. These toys can be used to make any shape you desire. Clean the tops of student desks using a soapy solution or disinfectant spray. Allow the desk tops to completely dry. Have all your students wash their hands with warm soapy water. This prevents germs from spreading to the Wikki Stix. Ask your students to make a triangle using a Wikki Stix. Walk around and help where needed. Ask students to make other shapes, as well.