Science

K.P.2.1 Classify objects by observable physical properties (including size, color, shape, texture, weight and flexibility).

K.P.2.2 Compare the observable physical properties of different kinds of materials (clay, wood, cloth, paper, etc) from which objects are made and how they are used.

Math

NC.K.G.2

Correctly names squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres regardless of their orientations or overall size.

NC.K.G.3

Identify squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres as two-dimensional or three-dimensional.

NC.K.G.4

Analyze and compare two- and three- dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, attributes and other properties.

NC.K.G.5

Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components and drawing shapes.

NC.K.G.6

Compose larger shapes from simple shapes.

ELA

RL.K.5 - Recognize common types of texts.

RL.K.6 - With prompting and support, define the role of the author and illustrator in telling the story.

RI.K.6 - With prompting and support, define the role of the author and illustrator in presenting the ideas or information in a text.

RI.K.5 - Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.

RI.K.7 - With prompting and support, describe how the words and illustrations work together to provide information.

RL.K.7 - With prompting and support, describe how the words and illustrations work together to tell a story.

RL & RI.K.10 - Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

Can you build and identify the shapes around our classroom?

(This works well as a group project but will work for independent as well)

Materials Needed:

popsicle sticks

popsicle stick connectors

Clay or playdough (will be dried out)

toothpicks

gumdrop candies, marshmallows, or playdough for connectors

Magnatiles (mix of shapes)

Unifix cubes

Geometric shapes building sticks

Shape reference sheets

In this activity, you will be investigating the shapes in your classroom and then building these shapes to display around the room.

1. Using the shape reference sheet, choose one shape to build with one of the material choices. Have students make the shapes they choose out of different materials to be able to compare the different materials.

2. Once the Shape is built, walk around and investigate the classroom and try to find this shape somewhere. Once found students will leave their shape on this object (may need to be placed in front of, taped to, etc.).

3. Encourage students to not put more than 3 shapes at one object in the classroom and also have them made out of different material choices to encourage further investigation of the shapes in the classroom.

Discussion Questions

• What materials were the hardest to build with? Why?

• What shape do we see the most around the room?

• What shape do we see the least?