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20 ideas for teaching shapes to kids

14 Comments Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten

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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. 

20 ideas for teaching shapes || Gift of Curiosity

1. Search for shapes hidden in a salt box

Search for shapes hidden in a salt box || Gift of Curiosity

2. Play a sandpaper and felt shapes matching game like Craftulate

Sandpaper and shapes from Craftulate

3. Make shape pictures using Imaginets

Make shape pictures using Imaginets || Gift of Curiosity

4. Play a shapes matching game like Storytime ABC’s

Make your own shapes matching game like Storytime ABC's

5. Get some exercise while chasing down shapes drawn with sidewalk chalk

Get some exercise while chasing down shapes drawn with sidewalk chalk || Gift of Curiosity

6. Make a shape collage {update: broken link removed} like The Activity Mom

Make a shape collage like The Activity Mom

7. Trace shapes using Wikki Stix

Trace shapes using Wikki Stix || Gift of Curiosity


8. Make shapes using craft sticks like Rockabye Butterfly {updated: broken link removed}

Make shapes using craft sticks like Rockabye Butterfly

9. Form shapes using a geo board

Make shapes using a geo board || Gift of Curiosity

10. Explore shapes using blocks and taped outlines like Teach Preschool

Explore shapes using blocks and taped outlines like Teach Preschool

11. Sort household objects by shape

Sort household objects by shape || Gift of Curiosity

12. Press shapes into playdough like Come Play an Hour

Press shapes into playdough like Come Play an Hour

13. Use Do-A-Dot markers to sort shapes using free printables

Use Do-A-Dot markers to sort shapes using free printables || Gift of Curiosity

14. Sort shape buttons into muffin tins like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

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

Make shapes disappear like magic || Gift of Curiosity

17. Make shapes using Q-Tips like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

Make shapes using Q-Tips like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

18. Play with pattern blocks

Play with pattern blocks || Gift of Curiosity

19. Use foam shapes blocks to do some stamping artwork like Mummy Musings and Mayhem

Use foam shapes blocks to do some stamping artwork like Mummy Musings and Mayhem

20. Paint with shapes like At Home with Ali

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.

Filed Under: Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, Shapes

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Reader Interactions

14 Comments

  1. Growing Up Madison

    August 11, 2013 at 8:02 am

    I need this for my toddler soon so I’m pinning. Thanks for these helpful tips. 🙂

    Reply to this comment
  2. Kristina @ SchoolTimeSnippets

    August 11, 2013 at 8:36 am

    Lots of great ideas! Thanks for putting this all together!

    Reply to this comment
  3. Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/

    August 16, 2013 at 5:54 pm

    Looks like some fun ideas! Pinning this, too! Thanks for sharing at TGIF!

    Reply to this comment
  4. Beth

    August 23, 2013 at 3:14 am

    So 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

    Reply to this comment
  5. Carrie

    August 23, 2013 at 9:32 am

    What a great round up!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    Reply to this comment
  6. Mandy

    August 12, 2014 at 12:33 am

    Many 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

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie SG

      August 12, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Thanks for the great tip about using videos too!

      Reply to this comment
  7. celiwe

    August 27, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    Thanks 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.

    Reply to this comment
  8. Jenna

    November 4, 2014 at 12:12 am

    Hi 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.

    Reply to this comment
  9. Janice

    February 15, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    Lots of great ideas here for playing with shapes. Adding a couple to my ‘to do list’. Thanks

    Reply to this comment
  10. Darlene Dorsey

    February 26, 2015 at 4:48 am

    Nice idea I didn’t knows.

    Reply to this comment
  11. Darlene

    November 24, 2015 at 11:56 am

    Super duper ideas!

    Reply to this comment
  12. loveth

    March 31, 2016 at 2:49 am

    wow! great ideas . I love all of it. I will start using it now. Thanks a million.

    Reply to this comment
  13. Celina

    April 19, 2020 at 9:27 am

    wow…..these lovely ideas sure helped my kids a lot! Thank you so much. All the best!

    Reply to this comment

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I help parents who are transitioning into homeschooling shed old mindsets and embrace their homeschooling superpowers so they can create a homeschool they love where their children will thrive.

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