Put away the worksheets and play with math instead! Our simple geometric shapes activity for kids is easy to do at home or as a math center in school. It also makes a terrific STEAM project including a bit of art and design too. Learn by doing, creating, discovering, and exploring with a simple, fun geometry activity.
SIMPLE MATH WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES ACTIVITY
G is for geometric shapes! We’re exploring hands-on math for the A-Z STEM series all this month! This geometric shapes math activity is perfect for preschool and kindergarten math play!
You can introduce shapes such as triangles, squares, pentagons, octagons, trapezoids and more while keeping the activity light and playful! What is STEM? Read all about STEM here.
GEOMETRIC SHAPES ACTIVITY SUPPLIES
foam sheets {or construction paper}
popsicle sticks {use cut straws too!}
scissors
magnetic numbers {or any numbers}
GEOMETRIC SHAPES ACTIVITY SET UP
I used our shapes printable packet to provide a variety of shapes to use. First I traced them onto the foam sheets. I made as many as I could so we would have lots of variety and colors! Plus, kids can fill in the names and count the sides and record them on the printable sheets!
Next I set out the foam shapes with popsicle sticks and magnetic numbers for an invitation to play and explore geometric shapes!
Geometric shapes are an important learning block for young kids. Learning about these shapes and their properties such as angles and sides will come in handy down the road, especially in geometry class! If you have pattern blocks you can also add them to the activity!
WHAT IS A GEOMETRIC SHAPE?
Geometric shapes, defined by Wikipedia: “Many two-dimensional geometric shapes can be defined by a set of points or vertices and lines connecting the points in a closed chain, as well as the resulting interior points. Such shapes are called polygons and include triangles, squares, and pentagons.”
COOKIE CUTTERS AND SAND DOUGH ARE GREAT FOR WORKING ON SHAPES!
It’s easy to have a little hands on math fun with a homemade geometric shape activity. Our designs spread across the table. We did a lot of counting and picked out shapes from within the shapes.
He loved the 6 sided geometric shapes the best and made patterns and designs with both the foam geometric shapes and the popsicle sticks!
Geometric shapes are a huge part of our life! They are everywhere. We completed our geometric shapes activity morning with a walk around the house. In each room we pointed out the different shapes.
This list I found of everyday geometric shapes examples was very helpful for me to be able to pull out some items I wouldn’t have thought of to show every day geometric shapes! Also make sure to look for shapes out in the community.
FUN AND HANDS ON GEOMETRIC SHAPES ACTIVITY FOR KIDS!
More hand on play with math and numbers. Click on the photos.
Great activity!
This is a terrific idea, I love the tactile nature of it. Fun and learning all rolled up together. Thank you!
Thanks a lot for this post. We are starting our homeschooling activities with my 8, 5, and 3 year sons. This is a great way of getting involved with geometry for the little ones.
Terrific! Glad you can use it!
Hi, I was wondering where do you print the shapes from?
This is where I found it:
“I printed off some geometric shape patterns from this site as it had some different sizes to offer”
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I then cut them out and traced them onto the foam sheets. I made as many as I could so we would have lots of variety and colors! I set them out with popsicle sticks and magnetic numbers for an invitation to play and explore geometric shapes!”
Thanks!
This is an interesting activity that parents can teach their kids. Geometry and shapes, kids will like to spend time with such things. Even I shall try my hands on it. I really loved the new concept and will definitely share it with my friends too. I thank the author for this!
Thank you so much! It’s a great open ended math and STEAM activity for all ages!
I think this is a fantastic post. Geometry always looked boring in the books but now when you share a new way to learn, absorb and grasp geometry rules, it appears quite appealing to me and it may to the kids too. Tell me where to buy some such interesting games too.