In a kindergarten classroom, the teacher can draw various shapes on the board and explain the characteristics of each shape. Then ask students to look around the classroom and find items that are in particular shapes. For example, ask the students to find something in the classroom that is in the shape of a circle; the students may point to the clock or a picture of the sun.
Teachers can use art time to teach children about shapes. Give the students a blank piece of paper and have them create a page about a shape. Ask them to draw the shape and provide pictures cut out of magazines illustrating the shape. Repeat this process so that each child produces a page on squares, circles, diamonds, hearts, ovals, triangles and rectangles. Staple the pages together and have the children create title pages for their shape books.
Cut out two pictures of each of the shapes students are learning about and place one of each in two boxes on one side of the classroom. Divide the students into two teams and have the teams line up on the other side of the room. Explain that when the game begins, you will call out a shape. The first player from each team must run to the box of shapes and find the correct one. When the first players find the right one, they each bring their shape back and the next player goes for the next shape. Continue the game until all the shapes have been removed from the boxes.
Children in kindergarten begin learning about patterns. Using an activity that combines shapes and patterns is a fun way to teach children about both subjects. Begin by drawing several shapes on the chalkboard. As you draw the shapes, describe and explain the characteristics of each and then draw a pattern. For example, draw a triangle, circle, triangle and then circle. Ask the children what shape comes next in the pattern. Increase the difficulty by making the patterns harder and by using more shapes in the patterns.