Lesson Title: Fun with Shapes
Curriculum Area: Math
Technology Strand: Uses technology but does not address a technology strand
Grade Level: K
 
Essential Question: How are circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles alike and different?
 
A Activity Summary In this PowerPoint activity, students will learn to distinguish between the basic two-dimensional shapes and describe the ways in which they are alike and different, as well as identify these shapes in their environment.
C Curriculum Math
3.03 Compare and contrast geometric figures.
T Technology Uses technology but does not address a technology strand
 
 
Activating Strategies
Shape Sorter
1. Pass around a box or tin that contains blocks (or picture cards) of the basic two-dimensional shapes (circle, square, triangle, and rectangle).
2. Have each student reach into the box (without looking) and pull out one block (or card).
3. Place a large cut-out of a circle on the board.
4. Ask students to stand up if the shape they pulled from the box looks like the one you just placed on the board.
5. The students who stand should be directed to an area on the carpet where they will form the "circle group".
6. Place a large cut-out of a square on the board.
7. Ask students to stand if the shape they pulled from the box looks like the one you just placed on the board.
8. The students who stand should be directed to another area of the carpet to form the "square group".
9. Place a large cut-out of a triangle on the board.
10.Ask the students to stand if the shape they pulled from the box looks like the one you just placed on the board.
11.The students that stand should be directed to yet another area of the carpet to form the "triangle group".
12.Lastly, place a large cut-out of a rectangle on the board.
13.Ask the remaining students to stand if this is their shape.
14.They should then be directed to an area of the carpet where they will form the "rectangle group".
15.Go through and ask each group about their shape. Have them name the characteristics of their particular shape (i.e. four corners, no corners, etc..).
16.Give the students 2 minutes to get up and find an object in the room that is the same as their shape.
17.Have them bring the objects back to their group.
18.Let the students discuss with you the objects that they found and how and why they are like the shapes that they pulled from the container.
 
Technology Vocabulary:  Multimedia Vocabulary
Detailed Technology Instructions:
 
Cognitive Teaching Strategies
Fun With Shapes
1. Pass out a copy of the Fun With Shapes Worksheet (download below) to each student in the class.
2. Based on the knowledge the students attained from the group exercise, have them answer the first four questions on the worksheet (if any student has trouble remembering what each shape looks like, describe the shapes to them and show the giant cut-outs of the shapes again to help them remember).
3. Direct students to open the Fun With Shapes Power Point presentation on their computer (Download below).
4. Open up the same presentation on your projector so that the students can easily follow along.
5. Begin the presentation. Have students click on their individual mouse once in order to get to the slide with the first question.
6. Read the question aloud and go through all of the incorrect answers before clicking on the correct one.
7. After arriving at the correct answer, have students click the forward button to go to the next slide.
8. Let them share with you all of the triangles that they find on that slide.
9. Have them click anywhere to proceed to the next slide.
10.Read the question aloud and go through all of the incorrect answers before clicking on the correct one.
11.After arriving at the correct answer, have students click on the forward button to proceed to the next slide.
12.Draw their attention back to the Fun with Shapes Worksheet.
13.Have them answer number five on the worksheet based on the number of circles that they see on the slide.
14.Let them discuss their answers with you, then count all of the circles on the slide together to verify the correct answer.
15.Have the students click on the foward button to continue to the next slide.
16.Read the question aloud, and click on the incorrect answer before clicking on the correct one.
17.Go over the incorrect answer and why it is wrong before continuing.
18.After the students click on the correct answer, ask them why is the shape a rectangle and not a square? Have them name some of the differences between the two shapes.
19.Have students click on the forward button to proceed to the next slide.
20.Read the statement aloud and let the students discuss with you where a square and a rectangle are in the picture.
21.Have them click on the forward button to continue on to the next slide.
22.Read the question aloud, then say the shapes in the pattern with them.
23.Let the students decide on the right answer (if they decide on the wrong answer, click on it anyway, then go back and repeat the pattern aloud with them again).
24.After arriving at the correct answer, have the students click on the forward button to continue.
25.Read the question aloud.
26.Direct students' attention back to the Fun with Shapes worksheet.
26.Have them answer question six based on what they see on the slide and the shapes on the worksheet that they have right in front of them.
27.Have the students color the shape based on what the directions for that question instruct.
28.The next three slides correspond with the next three questions on the worksheet. Have students do the exact same thing that they did in steps 26 and 27 for the remaining three slides.
29.When all of this is finished, ask question number ten out loud. Go around the room and have students name things (both in the classroom and from the outside world) that are in the shape of a circle, square, triangle and rectangle.
 
Summary Strategies
Exit Tickets
1. Pass out flash cards of the basic two-dimensional shapes, and place them face down on the students' desks.
2. Have them get into groups again based on the flash cards they just received.
3. Before each group leaves out of the room, they must tell you the name of the shape on their flash cards and either a)the number of sides and corners it has, b)something in the environment that is the same shape as the one on the card, or c) how their shape is alike and/or different than another shape studied.
4. Collect the cards after each group gives the correct answers.
5. Use these cards as Exit Tickets out of the room.
 
Resources
For directions on how to download files choose: Mac (Kid Pix or Microsoft  Works), Windows (Kid Pix or Microsoft Works or Office), or Mac/PC (AppleWorks).
 
Crayons
Shapes.ppt
Shapes_WS.doc
Flash Cards
box or tin
Shape Blocks
Large circle, square, triangle, and rectangle cut-outs
Bag

Microsoft Word File
Shapes_WS.doc

Microsoft PowerPoint File
Shapes.ppt
 
Re-teaching and Enrichment Activities
Follow up by sending a letter home to the parents informing them that the class has been learning about shapes. Ask them to bring in foods that are in different shapes (ex. small finger sandwiches in the shape of triangles, square crackers, etc.) Have a "Shapes Party" for the students.

The concept for this lesson plan was submitted by 

Tonya  Martin

 UNCG, Data last modified:  7/4/2006