Shape Find Worksheets
Learning the name of geometric shapes and figures is often thought as something that does not relate to math. Geometry is one of the core foundations of math. Learning this is about learning to draw a figure on command or name what the outline of something forms. Geometry is all about making sense of the world around us. Take a quick look around the room. Any sides, corners, and angles look familiar? At this level we want students to not only become comfortable with naming and drawing these figures, but also see commonalties between them. This series of worksheets and lessons will help students start of on their journey into the world of geometry.
Aligned Standard: K.G.A.3
- Shapes in Balloons: Step-by-Step Lesson- Follow the instructions to color in the shapes.
- Guided Worksheet - Use the legend key to color in all the shapes.
- Guided Explanation - Another very difficult one to explain for me.
- Independent Practice Worksheet - Once I found the cat, I had to stick with the animal theme.
- Matching Worksheet - Some of these are not classified as geometric shapes. I just used them to ease in.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Lesson Sheets
Focus first on understanding shapes. Then, locate those shapes in every day life.
- Lesson 1 - Number the shapes in the truck according to the image above.
- Lesson 2 - This is called a circle. All ends of the circle are an equal distance to the center of the circle.
- Lesson 3 - A pyramid is a structure that has 4 triangular faces. A pyramid's outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single point at the top.
- Introducing 3D Shapes Chart - 2 dimensional objects are flat. 3 dimensional objects have depth and are thick.
Practice Worksheets
These are some of my favorite sheets to play with. It's real world math for the little guys and girls.
- Practice 1 - Test your skills by identifying the shapes below.
- Practice 2 - A cone is geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a base (usually flat and circular) to a point called the apex or vertex.
- Practice 3 - What's the basic shape of this sandwich?
- Practice 4 - Cube is a three-dimensional geometric shape that has 6 cubical faces.
- Practice 5 - Draw a pentagon. Draw a hexagon below pentagon. Draw acircle next to the hexagon.
- Practice 6 - Find the basic 3 geometric shapes used in this image.
How to Help Students Learn the Shapes
There are many different ways to approach geometric shapes with students. Here are a number of activities that we would highly suggest for teachers to use with students.
Get Their Hands on Them - Anytime you have an opportunity to get your students to have their hands wrapped around a shape, do it. It is one thing to see something on paper. It is entirely a different thing to feel these shapes with your own hands. You can use manipulative or a ton of great cut and paste activities. We highly encourage you do this with your students.
Geoboards - There are premade shapes that fit on to peg boards called geoboards. It is a good habit to have students maneuver these blocks all around the block mats. Even though they are young, using this activity serves two purposes. Yes, it helps them find shapes, but it also prepares them to place these shapes on a coordinate plan that they will be doing six years from now. The sooner they can get familiar with a grid system, the better.
Popsicle Sticks Time - Outside of a good circle, students can make any shape with sides and corners with popsicle sticks. Why not have them create all the shapes that you are hoping they will be able to find on the worksheets that we have created for you above. The only materials that are needed is glue and popsicle sticks. I recommend placing the shapes you have created on a large index card or let them be free form and hang them from the ceiling with a little string.
Use Play Dough - You can also use clay, if you want to be a little more hard core. This activity really puts all the others, we have discussed, into one. A good lesson or two with calling out the names of shapes and having students create them with play dough usually is all an entire class needs to do to master this skill. Sometimes when our class hits a wall with something difficult I will break out the play dough with them.
Tips to Help Preschoolers Follow Directions
One of the toughest tasks for parents and teachers is to make the kids follow directions. It is difficult to gain their attention and make them understand each and every part of the directions.
Request the child their attention, and the maximum results can be achieved once you are in the line of sight of the kid. Try to minimize the distractions once you have the kids' attention. It is better to do this before asking the child for their attention. Turn off the television and put away the toys.
Always try to talk slowly and use a low pitch for the child's maximum understanding. After you say something, give a two to seven-second wait time as it helps the child effectively process what you said. Ask the child to repeat what you said to know if the child heard what you said or not. Adopt a tone of telling and avoid using the question tone. Number the directions as it helps kids remember the instructions. Once your kid completes a task by following the instructions, do not forget to praise and celebrate. The most praise your child gets, the better they will perform the next time!