This months Common Core States Standard is based on Mathematics – Measurement & Data: Classify objects and count the number of objects in categories.
1. Marble Painting Shapes Graph
Materials: construction paper, large and small marbles, paint, scissors, bulletin board space with yarn (or use colored paper rolls with felt pen lines)
Process: Each student chooses a round, square, oval, octagonal or rectangular shape and places it in a box lid (it can be taped down with the tape under the shape). Marbles are dipped in a small paint container, placed in the box lid, rolled around in the lid and removed. When dry, children remove the marble paintings and place them on the graph, explaining what shape it is.
At Circle Time the children count the number of each shape. They share with a partner about how a circle is different and the same as an oval. Then they share in the whole group. Characteristics of other shapes can be talked about at another time.
Follow-up: A clipboard and marker are given to a pair of children. They look through the room to record where there are circles or squares, etc. They draw or write their findings and share with the group at Circle Time.
2. Shape Pictures
Materials: Precut construction paper shapes in various sizes; spinner divided into thirds, labeled circle, triangle, and rectangle; a die with pips from 1 through 6; a large piece of construction paper, glue or tape.
Process: Children compose pictures using a specified number of circles, triangles, and rectangles. Either use precut shapes or have children cut the shapes themselves. Each child uses the spinner to determine what shape to select from the pile, he/she rolls the die to select the appropriate number of the shapes indicated. Children repeat the process once more. They then make pictures using the shapes they selected. When they are satisfied with their picture, they can glue the shapes down. At Circle Time or in Small Group Time, they describe their constructions using shape and position words.
Books about Shapes:
• Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone
• Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
• When a Line Bends…a Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene
• Museum Shapes by The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle
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