Shapes Lesson Plans

1. Bubbles- In this activity, students develop inquiry skills during fun experiments.
2. Building with Triangles- Each geometric investigation in this unit begins with an open-ended question that engages students in a study of triangles and their properties.
3. Classroom Heart- This activity gives young children a visual description of how feelings can be damaged by remarks from others. Teachers are encouraged to use this lesson during the first week of school.
4. Crayon Rubbing Art Project- This lesson is a fun art activity to do with students who are learning about primary and secondary colors. It also introduces the students to the difference between soft and hard edges. It is an inexpensive activity to do, due to the few materials required.
5. Crown Making- This lesson is to help students learn about using geometric shapes, overlapping, repetition, and paper sculpture. These can be used in many ways. Each child must demonstrate each of these, but they must be able to identify each one to the teacher.

1. Cubes Everywhere- In this lesson, students use cubes to develop spatial thinking and review basic geometric principles through real-life applications. Students are given the opportunity to build and take apart structures based on cubes.
2. Do They Match?- In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use three dimensional figures they have constructed to determine when two isometric drawings can represent the same shape.
3. Geometric Solids and Their Properties- In this interactive geometry investigation students will explore geometric solids and their properties.
4. Getting to Know the Shapes- In this interactive geometry investigation students will explore geometric solids and their properties.
5. Going on a Shape Hunt: Integrating Math and Literacy- Integrating mathematics and literacy allows students to develop an understanding of the place of mathematics in their world. Students are introduced to the idea of shapes through a read-aloud session with an appropriate book.
6. Investigating Shapes- In these lessons, students identify characteristics of triangles, manipulate electronic geoboards to construct triangles, and name the triangles’ relative locations.
7. I've Seen That Shape Before- Students learn the names of solid geometric shapes and explore their properties. They identify these shapes in the real-world and in pictures found on Web sites. In pre-activities and extensions, they use physical models of simple solid shapes.
8. Lettuce Be Different- Students compare their own similarities and differences. They then grow and compare several varieties of lettuce plants to explore variations within the same type of plant.
9. A Line is a Dot That Went For a Walk- This lesson, part of a series called "Elements of Art Extravaganza," introduces young children to one of the basic elements of art using a variety of interdisciplinary art activities.
10. Making a Cartogram- Cartograms are visual ways of displaying statistical geographic information. They are a hybrid-cross between a graph and a map. Because of their visual nature these charts are easier for students to absorb and remember statistical geographical data.
11. Making a Shape Jacket- In this interactive geometry investigation students will explore geometric solids and their properties.
12. Measuring Volume with Water- Students will make predictions about volume and be able to support their predictions.
13. Musical Shapes- Based on Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory, teachers need to use a variety of teaching strategies to reach all students. This activity includes language, math, movement, music, critical thinking, group and individual participation. Students will identify six basic geometrical shapes using musical instruments in a "feely bag". They will use descriptive language: hard, round, cold, smooth,ect. When the instrument is guessed, students will identify that geometric shape in the classroom. An extension of this activity will be for students to "write" rhythm patterns using geometric shapes.
14. Mysterious Bubbles- To have students understand the physical elements involving bubbles.
15. Patterns and Function- In this lesson, students will investigate properties of perimeter, area, and volume related to various geometric two- and three-dimensions shapes.
16. Ping-Pong, Cling-Clong- To teach students problem solving skills and cooperative team building while keeping emotions in check.
17. Polyhedra: Learning by Building- Teaching project that let's students learn about polyhedra by using kite materials to create life size forms. Exercises include measuring surface area, volumes, and changing the form to simpler shapes.
18. Rectangles and Parallelograms- In this activity, students will use dynamic software to examine the properties of rectangles and parallelograms, and identify what distinguishes a rectangle from a more general parallelogram. Using spatial relationships, they will examine the properties of two-and three-dimensional shapes.
19. Seeing Geometry in Art- Students use paintings printed during the previous lesson to connect their knowledge of geometric shapes and terms with Kandinsky’s use of geometric figures.
20. Shape Cutter- This student interactive allows students to explore how they can decompose shapes and recompose them to make other shapes
21. Shape Hunt- The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to give students opportunities to recognize, describe, build, and explore shapes in many different contexts.
22. Shape Hunt Chant- In the lesson, students are introduced to shapes through books, and then learn the names of shapes, locate shapes.
23. Shape Poems: Writing Extraordinary Poems About Ordinary Objects- In this lesson, students write shape poems using their content knowledge and sensory awareness of a familiar object. Students first learn about the characteristics and format of a shape poem.
24. Shape Search - This reproducible activity sheet prompts students to list all the shapes they can find in photos of various man-made structures.
25. Shapes on the Way Home - This reproducible chart prompts students to search for and list shapes they find as they walk home from school.
26. Shaping Patterns and Dancing Shapes- Students verbally explain and then create with a stretch rope several geometric shapes (triangle, rectangle, square, and circle). Students also identify and create the missing shape in a set of patterns.
27. Symmetry in Life Around Us- The learner will become acquainted with symmetry and asymmetry. The learner will look at shapes and items around them and decide whether it asymmetrical or symmetrical. Symmetry is all around us in nature.
28. Tangrams- Often when students are introduced to tangrams, they are asked to put the pieces together to form a square. This is often a difficult and frustrating task, because they have no background as to how the pieces fit together.
29. Three-dimensional Crown Technique- Crown making is a fun activity for children because they come away with something that they can wear. This activity is open for creativity and uniqueness. The instructions are easy to understand and the materials that can be used are not limited to the below.
30. Three-Dimensional Shapes- In this activity, students will identify shapes that architects use to build houses. Students will then explore these shapes by building a model of their "dream" home.
31. Three Sides- In these lessons, students identify characteristics of triangles, manipulate electronic geoboards to construct triangles, and name the triangles’ relative locations.
32. How Do You Build Triangles?- Students investigate the basic properties of triangles. Students also investigate the relationships among other basic geometric shapes.
33. Working with Shapes- In this lesson, students review different geometric terms.
34. What Can You Build with Triangles?- Students explore ways of building different basic shapes from triangles. They also investigate three dimensional shapes constructed from triangles.