Lights! Camera! Action!

If you want to grab a child’s attention make them the star.

There’s no better way to get kids learning than to immerse them in the activity.

Want them to be interested in shapes? Have them lie on the floor and make the shape and take a picture of it.

They will love looking at the posters featuring themselves.

Take it a step farther and put the photographs in this easy reader.

Use it as a read aloud, or make copies for each child to trace and write.

When everyone is done with their booklet, read as a whole group to practice concepts of print.

They’ll enjoy taking it home to reinforce the lessons with their families and continue to share this wonderful keepsake as they review and learn the various shapes.

Since different schools have also added additional shapes, I’ve also included those. (octagon, pentagon, hexagon & polygon) Simply add the pages you need.

Here’s how to take the photographs:

You’ll need plenty of room so move your desks/tables.

If you can get an adult helper that expedites things. They can pose the children while you take the shots.

The children in my sample pictures are posed facedown, so I could share this on the Internet.

By all means have your sweethearts smiling sunny side up, so everyone can see how adorable they look.

Lightly draw your shape on the carpet with chalk. Choose students to lie on the lines. Blot up the chalk with a damp sponge.

Draw the next shape and choose different children.

I stood on a ladder from the janitor’s closet, to take my pictures from an “aerial” view. You might not have to get that high.

You’ll need 6 children for the rectangle. The circle’s a bit tricky.  Have student’s hang onto each other’s feet so they stay rounded.

Your little ones really have a lot of fun with this activity and can’t wait for their turn, so if you have more kids than shapes, make sure you do some repeats so everyone gets a turn to be a star.

I’ve also used kid’s bodies for the following: numbers, and made a number book, hands on a large white clock to show times to the hour and half hour and then glued the photographs in a booklet called time.

Finally, I’ve also posed them to look like the number 100 for 100 Day.

I hope you enjoy making your body books! I know your kiddo’s will ask to read them over and over as the light bulbs go on and things take shape in their minds.

Click on the link to view/download Shaping Children Up! Class Shape Booklet

Feel free to PIN anything on my site you find helpful!

Thanks for visiting! I hope you can drop in tomorrow for another teaching tip.