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Math

Materials:

Purple flower

Several sheets of paper (Cutouts of basic shapes such as triangles, squares, circles, and rectangles. 1 sheet for the picture they will create.); Scissors; Crayons or markers

Your Child Will Learn

To explore shapes to make new shapes.

shape-picture

Shape Picture

Here's What To Do

1

Hand your child a few shapes and put two shapes together as you explore what they make. Say, "What happens if you put a triangle and a square together? Do they make something new?"

2

Have your child pick two shapes to combine for their shape picture. Say, “What picture can you make with the shapes you combined?”

3

Together talk through how your child will glue the shapes down and what they will add to their picture.

4

As your child finishes their picture, encourage them to talk about their picture. Say, “You made a big rectangle by putting two squares together to make a car!”

Mother and child play together (animated).

Put PEER Into Action

P

Pause:

  • Put away any distractions and give your child a high five.
E

Engage:

  • "How do the two triangles fit together to make a diamond? What happens if you turn them the other way?"
  • "Can you make something that looks like a boat or a car using these shapes? What will you try first?"
E

Encourage:

  • "I like how you are putting the shapes together to make a picture. Keep trying—you’re doing great!"
  • "It’s okay if it doesn’t look exactly the same at first. Let’s try again together—you can do it!"
R

Reflect:

  • “Which were the hardest shapes to work with?”

Not quite ready?

Focus on building confidence with matching and fitting shapes together.

Ready for more?

Challenge your child to combine shapes to make specific objects to add to their picture.

Variable color muffin tins (animated)

As your child masters this skill...

Can make new combined shapes.

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