I’ve worked with my kids on learning their shapes on and off over the last couple of years. During that time, I have searched far and wide to find some of the best and most engaging ideas for teaching shapes to kids. In this post, I’ve rounded up 20+ fabulous ideas for teaching shapes to your kids. In this list you are virtually guaranteed to find at least one new activity to try with your children that they will enjoy.
Note: For more ideas and free printables to help kids learn shapes, see my teaching shapes to kids page.
1. Search for shapes hidden in a salt box
2. Play a sandpaper and felt shapes matching game like Craftulate
3. Make shape pictures using Imaginets
4. Play a shapes matching game like Storytime ABC’s
5. Get some exercise while chasing down shapes drawn with sidewalk chalk
6. Make a shape collage {update: broken link removed} like The Activity Mom
7. Trace shapes using Wikki Stix
8. Make shapes using craft sticks like Rockabye Butterfly {updated: broken link removed}
9. Form shapes using a geo board
10. Explore shapes using blocks and taped outlines like Teach Preschool
11. Sort household objects by shape
12. Press shapes into playdough like Come Play an Hour
13. Use Do-A-Dot markers to sort shapes using free printables
14. Sort shape buttons into muffin tins like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
15. Use a felt board to create pictures from felt shapes like The Imagination Tree
16. Make shapes disappear like magic
17. Make shapes using Q-Tips like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
19. Use foam shapes blocks to do some stamping artwork like Mummy Musings and Mayhem
20. Paint with shapes like At Home with Ali
More resources for learning shapes
More shapes posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- 15 books about shapes
- Magic disappearing shapes
- Trace the shapes art and fine motor activity
- How many ways to make a shape?
- Sand shapes
- Exploring 3D shapes through play
- 3D shapes graphing game
For more ideas and free printables to help kids learn shapes, see my Teaching Shapes to Kids page and my Learning Shapes Pinterest Board.
Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Learning Shapes on Pinterest.
Growing Up Madison says
August 11, 2013 at 8:02 amI need this for my toddler soon so I’m pinning. Thanks for these helpful tips. 🙂
Kristina @ SchoolTimeSnippets says
August 11, 2013 at 8:36 amLots of great ideas! Thanks for putting this all together!
Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/ says
August 16, 2013 at 5:54 pmLooks like some fun ideas! Pinning this, too! Thanks for sharing at TGIF!
Beth says
August 23, 2013 at 3:14 amSo many fun ideas! I love the sandpaper and felt idea -what a great tactile learning idea!
Thanks for sharing your creativity & linking up to TGIF!
I featured your post today on TGIF today.
Have a great weekend,
Beth
Carrie says
August 23, 2013 at 9:32 amWhat a great round up!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Mandy says
August 12, 2014 at 12:33 amMany wonderful ideas that I will be using. You might also try adding songs. I have used several “shapes” songs on YouTube to teach my little ones shapes. Their current favorite is “Learn shapes with Delmore the Donkey”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ZUopmfTho
Another good one is the shapes song collection by busy beavers
Katie SG says
August 12, 2014 at 10:51 amThanks for the great tip about using videos too!
celiwe says
August 27, 2014 at 12:22 pmThanks dear for your creativity ,you are encouranging every teacher to teach using different ideas,I love the one using sticks to make a shape whose sides ,vertex can be easily to count by learners.
Jenna says
November 4, 2014 at 12:12 amHi I am a specialist teaching assistant for visually impaired children aged 0 to 19.
Your website is absolutely fantastic to use with some of the children I support. Thank you very much.
Janice says
February 15, 2015 at 10:33 pmLots of great ideas here for playing with shapes. Adding a couple to my ‘to do list’. Thanks
Darlene Dorsey says
February 26, 2015 at 4:48 amNice idea I didn’t knows.
Darlene says
November 24, 2015 at 11:56 amSuper duper ideas!
loveth says
March 31, 2016 at 2:49 amwow! great ideas . I love all of it. I will start using it now. Thanks a million.