Students will be learning about shapes in the world around us. Through the use of literature, students will learn that shapes are beyond just a piece of paper. Opening a child’s eyes to the design of the world around them, students will be intrigued by the similarities among objects that could not seem more different. Shapes are noticeable attributes in the world surrounding us. Students will see the world in a new light. Rather than simply looking out the window, students will be looking out a square window. Instead of looking at a plate, children will be looking at a circle. Teaching children about shapes and the different characteristics encourages children to define and organize shapes and eventually the world around them. While shapes may seem like a minor skill, identification and organization will translate to many other subject areas, including reading. This simple process of organizing shapes is merely the foundation for living in a mathematical world. According to Ellen Church, shapes are symbols which relates to a child’s recognition of letters. Learning shapes is an important lesson as it prepares students for later learning.

Triangle, Rectangle, Square, Circle, Pentagon, Hexagon, Side, Vertices

Students will be able to recognize and identify common shapes learned in class in the world outside of the classroom. 

Students will be able to distinguish and sort common shapes.

60 minutes

Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban

Magnifying glass cutouts

Markers/crayons

Colored masking tape

Shape Hunt Sheet

Pre-cut shapes

Sorting Sheets (one of each per group)

Before

1. Begin by reviewing shapes from the last two days.
2. Have students sort shapes in graphic organizers small groups: (Triangle/Triangle, 3 side/4 side/5 side/6 side, Ask students if there is any other way to organize shapes)
3. Ask if there is any other way we could organize the shapes
4. Ask students if they ever see shapes outside the classroom?
5. Watch SHAPES by Pancake Manor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsR0h50BiFQ

 

During

1. Ask students to brainstorm in their table groups other places that they have seen shapes. (On the way to school? At the grocery store? At home?)
2. Make a list on the board of different shapes that students have seen. 
3. Introduce the school shape hunt:

• Students will be given magnifying glasses 
• Students will draw different shapes in the middle of the magnifying glasses
• As a class, we will walk to different rooms around the school and students will have to match their magnifying glass with shapes that they see. (Ex. if we have a magnifying glass with a quadrilateral, we could place it on a bulletin board in the hallway)

1. As a class, walk to different locations in the school building (gymnasium, library, school office, hallway)
2. At location, prior to allowing students to hunt, use colored masking tape to outline a shape. Emphasis how shape was found, and how you know it is that shape. Explain what a vertices (point) is and a side is. and then place a magnifying glass in the middle. Demonstrate outlining shape with finger.
3. At first location, participate in finding a shape as a whole class together to ensure their understanding of activity (continue until class understands).
4. At each location, stop and give students time (approx. 5 minutes) to place their shapes around 
5. Gather students and discuss different shapes we see in this room. 
6. Allow a few students to show where they placed their magnifying glass.
7. Have students collect their magnifying glass and continue on to the next location

After

1. Return to classroom and ask students to draw out different shapes that they saw in the school on the shape hunt sheet. 
2. After students have done this, gather students in reading circle and ask where else they think they may see shapes. 
3. Read Shapes, shapes, shapes. 
4. Ask students to find shapes at home in magazines/newspapers and bring to class

Students will hand in task sheet for teacher to determine student understanding

Teacher will assess students through observation during shape sort and shape hunt activity.

Hoban, T. (1986). Shapes, shapes, shapes. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Youtube. (2011). Shapes. [Web Video]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsR0h50BiFQ

Shapes, World

Rebecca Peters

June 03, 2015