1-2-3 Come Do Some 2D Shape Activities With Me

Most of my Y5s don’t have any problem learning to identify the 2D shapes, however, when I ask them to find an example of that shape in the “real world” many of them have difficulty.

With that in mind, I designed these quick, easy and fun “I Spy!”  Puzzle Pie activities.

Whenever I'm putzing with a project, I test it out on my 4-year-old grandson, to tweak any "glitches" that may occur. 

Nothing like "kid-tested & teacher-approved".

He absolutely LOVED putting these together.

Even his 2-year-old sister enjoyed placing pieces on the grid, although she did things willy-nilly.

Each shape packet is sold individually for just a dollar.

There are 14, 2D shapes in all: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart, star, semicircle & crescent!

I had a question whether I would consider bundling all of them into one packet. For sure! 

I'm always willing to combine a "collection" of something.  This bundle offers a 40% savings from buying each 2D shape puzzle pie packet separately.

Use the full color patterns as an independent center.  

Simply print, laminate and trim.  I keep the "puzzle parts" for each 2D shape in a large, ZipLock Baggie.

Depending on the shape and clip art available, I’ve included 1-4, “bottom” puzzle grids with matching words, as well as a blank template, so that students can pick and choose, which of the 6-24-different pieces of “real world” 2D shape examples, they want to use to complete the picture puzzle.

For example, I found many more graphics of rectangular-shaped items, so there are 4 puzzles and 24 pieces for the rectangle packet, where as there were a limited number of examples for the hexagon, which has 2 grids and 12 pieces to choose from. 

Even though they are not part of my report card standards, I included the rhombus and trapezoid shapes, as my Y5s use pattern block manipulatives for a variety of our math centers, and I wanted them to be familiar with the vocabulary to describe these shapes.

Beginning readers can practice their decoding skills with the word-filled grids, while younger kiddos can simply place the pictures on the blank grids. 

You can also use the puzzles as an interesting and fun assessment tool. Choose one or 2 picture pieces for each 2D shape.

Hold one up and ask students to identify what shape they see. This will also check that they are using correct vocabulary as well. 

Likewise, ask them to point to a hexagon. This way you know they can identify the shape, but not necessarily remember the name of it.

I also run off an extra set of each of the picture pieces for all of the shapes, to use as a sorting activity. This set is kept in a large ZipLock Baggie. 

As a whole-group activity, I also use this bag to pass out several pieces to each child. We sit in a circle and they show one of the picture pieces, tell the name of the shape and what the "real world" object is.  "Can we spy anything in our room that is also that shape?"

I’ve also included black & white templates, so that students can make their own puzzles to take home. 

The pentagon & hexagon packet also have a volleyball, picture poster.  Tossing or rolling a volleyball to your students, is a quick, easy and super fun way to practice those somewhat "toughie" shapes. 

I think they're a bit difficult to remember because there really aren't that many examples children see or are familiar with, like squares and circles. 

The pentagon packet also includes "irregular" pentagons, as seen with a teabag, pocket or baseball's home plate.

I've also included some interesting information about the "why" home base is an irregular pentagon.  

Since March Is Reading Month, and many classrooms are celebrating Seuss, today's featured FREEBIE also helps practice 2D shapes; as well as letters, numbers 0-120, contractions, colors and more.

I used a sand pail for one container, as well a "flip up" container from a 10-pack of Mr. Clean "erasers", which is perfect for the Grinch's "mouth". 

LOVE the dry sponges too, as they are perfect for getting permanent marker off laminated name cards, so that I can reuse them each year.  Several dishwashing containers like Cascade, also use flip up containers.

 Click on the link to grab the jumbo, "Feed The Grinch" packet.  I hope you find it useful. 

Well that's it for tonight.  I usually zip off a blog article during the day, but life happened this morning, with way too much on my plate all day.  

Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a stress-free week. 

"The greatest weapon against stress, is our ability to choose one thought over another." -William James