Children enjoy searching for things, and a shape hunt can make learning shapes interactive. When in the classroom, teachers can call out a shape and give their students a few minutes to go find that shape and bring it back. For instance, a preschooler in search of a rectangle may find an eraser, a piece of paper, a block or a baby doll's blanket. Parents can play this game at home as well, and this can be used for more complex shapes for older children.
Most people are familiar with the song "The Hokey-Pokey" where a group stands in a circle and a part of the body is called out. For instance, if they say "left arm," then you put your left arm in or out of the circle as directed. According to Hot Chalk Lesson Plans Page, children enjoy playing this game using shapes. To play with shapes, give each child a variety of shapes, depending on their level. Students sit in a circle on the floor, and when the teacher calls out the shape, the student will need to find that shape in their collection and put it in and out of the circle, according to the directions.
Many classrooms now have pattern blocks, which are flat shapes in assorted colors. Pattern block sets often come with cards that show how to put different shapes together to form something new. Tactile manipulation of shapes often helps solidify learning.
If pattern blocks are not available, adults can simply cut a variety of shapes out of construction paper and make them available to children. With paper and a glue stick, children will use circles to make a snowman, or figure out how to put two triangles together to make a rectangle. Many children will use many shapes and create a whole town with buildings and cars. The possibilities are endless, and challenge students to name the shapes they are using as they make their creation.
Many children learn shapes best while drawing them because they learn by doing. "Tracing Shapes" by Baby Center suggests drawing shapes in black marker on white paper. Then provide tracing paper for students to trace these shapes. Many children will enjoy labeling them or cutting them out as well.
Children from very young ages enjoy playing bingo, and even kids in advanced math can play this game to learn more complex shapes. Teachers or parents will need to provide bingo cards with a variety of shapes on them, as well as something to use to mark the spaces. Then the leader can pull a shape, and if a student has a matching shape on his board, he marks the space. When he gets a whole row marked, he yells out "Bingo!" and gets a prize. For more of a challenge, the leader can just call out the name of the shape, such as "Octagon," and the players will have to find the octagon shape on their board.
Snack time can accomplish more than quieting a rumbling stomach. According to A to Z Teacher Stuff, in "Shapes!" snack time is the perfect time for reviewing shapes. Many cereals come in circle and square shapes and are a good choice for a snack. Crackers come in circles, rectangles and squares. Teachers can hand out a variety and allow children to sort and name the shapes. Graham crackers come in large rectangles, but older students can use a plastic knife to cut their graham cracker into an assigned shape, or put some together like a puzzle to create a shape.
Like all subjects, learning shapes can be effective when children are actively engaged and involved in activities that make the learning more memorable and relevant.