In this activity, children identify shapes and use their features to sort them into “like” categories. Sorting is a foundational math skill for preschoolers.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication; Math
MATERIALS
- You will need multiple basic shapes in the same color and in different colors (e.g., three red, three blue, and three green triangles, circles, rectangles, and squares). You can use shape blocks (multiple sets) or cut shapes out of colored paper or cardstock.
LET'S PLAY
Place all of the shapes into a large pile on the floor or table. Begin by identifying each shape and color.
Ask your child to put all of the circles in a pile by saying, “Let’s find all the circles. Remember, circles have no sides and no corners.” The child can then look through the pile to find all the circles, including those of different colors. Once he has correctly done this, return the circles to the original pile. Encourage your child to shuffle all of the shapes together with you so that they are no longer sorted; make this a fun and silly part of the game, for example “Mix, mix, mix! Let’s mix them all up in one big messy pile!”
After your child has sorted the pile by various shapes, say something like: “Let’s find all of the red squares.” The child can then look through the pile to find all the red squares.
Ask the child, “I see there are some squares that were left out of this pile; why is that?” Encourage the child to explain that although some of the others are squares, they are not red. By doing this, the child is looking at the shapes’ attributes and sorting them accordingly.
TIPS
- As your child becomes familiar with the square, rectangle, triangle, and circle shapes, additional shapes can be added such as the star, semicircle, trapezoid, crescent, and diamond.
- To extend the activity, present your child with household objects that can be sorted by their shape attributes. For example, a square dish towel, a rectangular sponge, a circular bottle cap, or a triangular tortilla chip.