Kindergarten children have a lot of energy requiring them to move often. Channel this energy into learning opportunities by playing movement games with shapes. To familiarize students with shape names, let them play a variation of duck, duck, goose by substituting shape names. Give them a list to choose from that includes complex shapes, such as pentagons and octagons. You can also get the students up and moving by playing musical shapes. Marking out large shapes onto the classroom floor with masking tape will set the stage for this cooperative learning game. Instruct the children to crowd into a specific shape each time the music stops, making sure everyone will fit.
Tabletop activities allow children to work independently or in small groups. To expose kindergartners to shapes, set them up at a table with shapes bingo, shape-matching games, or tangram. Tangram is a type of puzzle made up of small flat geometric shapes called "tans" that are used for creating patterns and designs, and they work well on the hard surface of a table. Children can fit the sides of the tans together in creative ways to better understand the function of shapes. For shapes bingo and shape-matching games, teachers can guide the students in covering the shapes on their card or grouping shapes into matching sets.
Teachers use group time as a way to bring the class together and direct them in learning activities. During these meetings, play shapes games that involve guessing and creating shapes. The students can pick shapes from a bag and describe them to the group while keeping them hidden. They will further their understanding of geometry by listing qualities of shapes, such as round or three-sided. Teachers can also guide children in creating shapes with their bodies. Students might use their arms to form shapes or even work in groups and make shapes while lying on the rug. Take photos of the activity to use in a classroom shapes book.
Building activities encourage students to use mathematical reasoning while expressing themselves creatively. Present the students with building challenges using various sizes and shapes of blocks, such as creating the highest tower or designing a road that includes a bridge. While working with blocks in new ways, children will explore different shapes and find ways to integrate them into their projects. Teachers should provide a range of building materials, including wood blocks, cardboard blocks, plastic interlocking blocks, and foam shapes.