How to help preschoolers learn about shapes

Shapes are everywhere

photo by

There are different shapes all around the world. This world would be different if everything was one shape.

Children need to learn the different shapes and how to recognize them.

There are various activities that you can do with preschoolers to help them learn shapes and to identify them in their environment.

This guide will provide information to help you teach preschoolers about shapes. You will also have ideas for different activities that you can do with your children.

For example, you can develop a worksheet that contains several different shapes and have them find all of the circles.

You can show the preschoolers shapes like the one pictured on the left and tell them that this design has several circles in it.

Instructions

photo by annnie

Step 1

Squares

Squares have four equal sides. The picture on the left shows a picture of squares. They are all squares even if they are turned in different directions because they all have equal sides.

You can do several activities that you can use to teach preschoolers about squares.

You can read to them a book about shapes and have them tell you which ones were the squares.

You can also make a worksheet of different sizes of shapes and have them put an X on the one that matches that shape in each row.

For art, you can have them draw squares and color them. Show them that squares have equal sides.

As a group, you can have the preschoolers go around the room and show you squares.

photo by David Goehring

Step 2

Rectangles

Rectangles have four sides like squares do, but they have two sides that are equal (opposite ends), and the other two sides are equal (opposite ends).

The shape on the left is a picture of rectangles. You can show the preschoolers a book that contains different shapes and have them tell you which shapes are rectangles.

You can also make a worksheet where they can trace over rectangles so they can learn to draw them.

For art, you can have them draw rectangles and paint them or color them.

As a group, you can have them go around and show you items that are shaped like rectangles.

photo by Dawn

Step 3

Triangles

Triangles have three sides. They have a bottom and are pointed at the top.

You can show the preschoolers a book that has different shapes and have them tell you which ones are triangles.

For art, you can have them draw triangles, and they can use different crayons to make designs on them.

As a group, you can have the children walk around the room and locate items that are triangles.

Things Needed

Drawing paper

Crayons

Pencils

Paint and brushes

Books on shapes

Flash cards

Videos on shapes similar to the ones in this guide

Tips & Warnings

Preschoolers need to be watched when they go around the room to locate the different shapes because they might start playing

Puppy Dog - Shapes

The famous Puppy Dog show teaching kids shapes.

Learn - Mix And Match

Click www.rajshri.com to watch the entire 'Learn' Series

Flag Inappropriate Content

Janet Blaylock
Helium member since May 24, 08
Number of Guides: 33

+ Post your Question|> See All Q&A

Other How-to Guides from the same author

Other activities

Using flash cards is a good way to teach preschoolers the different shapes. You can lay the cards face up on the table and have one child choose a card and then find the matching shape. You can continue this activity with each child.

Shape pictures is another activity. You can have a page of different shapes and have the preschoolers draw faces on the shapes and turn them into people.

Another art project is to have different shapes cut out of construction paper. You can have a white sheet of construction paper with the following shapes on it: circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles. Then, you can cut different shapes out of colored construction paper and have the preschoolers glue all of the circles on the circle shape and continue with the other shapes. After that, you can write the names above the shapes and the children's names on their papers.

Understanding squares

by Moe Zilla

In geometry, a square is defined as a shape with four sides the same length (and with each side at a 90 degree angle to the others). But squares are very simple, which makes them a great way to start...More>
Write Now Write

Pattern blocks: Fun learning for preschoolers

by Galen Gregory

Pattern blocks, also known as parquetry blocks, are blocks which are flat and come in a set of six geometric shapes. The basic shape is an equilateral triangle, and from this triangle can be construct...More>
Write Now Write

Was this How-To Guide helpful?