Cutting simple shapes out of different colored construction paper and gluing them onto another piece of construction paper to make a picture is an activity any preschool child will enjoy. He will learn what each shape is, how they work together to form other shapes and what colors they are. He will also get to stretch his creativity and imagination to make any kind of picture he chooses. With some encouragement and guidance this lesson should be a fun time for all.
Preschool children are still learning coordination and control. Safety scissors pose a threat of potential injury, even when used under adult supervision. Hold off on giving your child scissors until she is older, and do all the necessary cutting beforehand yourself. Also, choose glue sticks or paste over liquid bottled glue, because they will be much easier for a preschooler to handle.
On a single piece of construction paper, draw one of each shape--circle, square, triangle, rectangle and parallelogram (diamond)--using a pencil or marker. Make sure that once the shapes are cut out they will be big enough for your child to handle--about 1 1/2 inches across. Stack the paper with three other pieces of construction paper in different colors. You can now easily cut out four different colors of each shape at once. If you choose, print the name or color of each shape on one side of the cut-out pieces, but for the sake of this lesson it is not necessary.
Have a glue stick or paste nearby for gluing. Also have some crayons or washable markers handy so the child can decorate his picture when he is finished gluing all of the pieces onto his paper.
Begin the lesson by laying out all the shapes on the table in front of your child. Point to each one and say the name and color of the shape. Ask her to point with you and repeat the names and colors as you go along. Once you are satisfied, move the shapes into a pile to one side. Give each of you a white or light-colored piece of construction paper and explain about the fun activity you're going to do together using the shapes from the pile.
If the child seems a bit confused, demonstrate by taking a shape from the pile, name its shape and color, then glue it to your paper. Encourage her to do the same. Continue working back and forth, and together until she is happy with the picture she has created. Offer crayons or washable markers to draw and decorate. Ask her if she can name all the shapes she has glued to her paper and what colors they are. Hang the paper up in her room or on the refrigerator to use as practice for naming shapes and colors any time she wants.