Why would we put so much focus on SHAPES?

Have you ever wondered why most early childhood programs teach children their colors and shapes early on?

Why not letters and numbers? Why not cats and dogs? It's because color and shape are two very noticeable attributes of the world around us. When you look out your window, you may not be saying it ... but your mind is noticing and identifying the green trees, brown rectangle buildings, square windows, and blue sky. Color and shape are ways children observe and categorize what they see. These very recognizable characteristics encourage children to define and organize the diverse world around them.

These first teachings in preschool and kindergarten are basics that your child needs to know before she learns the "other basics" of reading, writing and math. Understanding color and shape is a tool for learning many skills in all curriculum areas, from math and science to language and reading. For eg- when your child learns to discern the similarities and differences between colors and shapes, she is using the same skills she needs to recognize the differences between letters and numerals.

This week our big focus was shapes... but as you will see below (with almost everything at Gan Camarillo) there is SO MUCH MORE (that we had in mind for the children to gain) than simply knowing the names and recognizing the shapes!

We put out LOTS of SHAPE stickers for the children to create even MORE shapes and designs...building and constructing...

When young children are asked to mathematically sort objects (such as leaves, rocks, shells, or keys) they usually use the most obvious attributes of color and shape, plus size, to categorize the items. This seemingly simple process (that we use every week when we sort the laundry or find things in the grocery aisles) is the foundation for living in a mathematical world.

We created 4 isles on the floor---with 4 shapes for the children to sort all different classroom items!

 From cookie cutters to blocks, containers and household items....the children were able to make "sense" and "order" from the most random, unconnected basket of items!

We added a selection of new books, focusing on shapes into our library center!

When your child explores different shapes, she is using one of the most basic educational processes: the observation of same and different. This concept provides her with a basic process that she will be able to use in observing, comparing and discussing all she sees and encounters.

Sorting by color and shape prepares your child for the future application of these skills in making graphs or searching for a book at the library.

Opportunity to practice drawing the shapes using stencils

Interesting Art using squares and circles!

We put out a circle/tube shaped roller, as well as squares taped onto paper!

   I wonder what will happen to the painting after we peel off the tape?

 Beautiful art with square shapes throughout!

Rolling the tube into paint...to create more artwork...

More shape building activities....

Each popstick had only HALF a shape on it...the children were required to find the other half and place them together to construct the FULL shapes!

All of us joining together...to create a LARGE shape using our body shapes!!

At Home:

Play shape-sorting games with simple household items. Put a collection of objects on the floor and invite your child to sort them into different piles — for round, square, flat, or rectangular items. Then ask him to go on a treasure hunt around the house to find one more thing that can go in each pile. You will be asking him to apply what he has learned in sorting the shapes to the greater world around him. 

Take a shape walk around the neighborhood. You might want to focus on one shape at a time. This will help your child match the shape to objects in the environment, and to notice same and different. Give her a cardboard circle to carry as you go on your "circle walk." You can also take a shape walk looking for all shapes. Carry a clipboard and a piece of paper with the basic shapes drawn on it. Every time your child finds one of the shapes, she can draw a tally mark. Which shape did she find the most of? Click here to find more shape and size activities.