Shape Collage
Here's What To Do
Invite your child to cut out circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles from colored paper or magazines. (If your child is learning scissors, let them cut a few simple shapes too!) As you cut out the shapes, speak about each one. "This is a triangle. It has three straight sides. This circle is round, like a wheel!"
Hand your child the shapes and encourage them to create a design or picture on a piece of paper. Talk about what you can make with these shapes. For example, maybe a house with a square and a triangle, or something completely new!
Once your child is happy with their design, guide them to glue the shapes onto the paper.. Let them do it themselves, even if it’s not perfect.
When finished, review the collage together. Point to each shape and ask your child to name it. "What shape is the roof of your house? Can you name it?"
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Put away devices, sit down at the table where you’re going to make your collage and take three deep breaths together. Now you’re ready to start!
Engage:
- "Why do you think the square works so well for the house? Can you think of other things shaped like squares?"
- “How could you combine your shapes to make something new and different?”
Encourage:
- "You’re doing a great job figuring out how the shapes fit together! Keep going—you’re almost done!"
- "It’s okay if the glue is a little messy. Let’s try again and see how it works!"
Reflect:
- “What did you enjoy the most about making this collage?"
Not quite ready?
Using the cut out shapes, give your child ideas for how to use them in their collage.
Ready for more?
Challenge your child to add new shapes to their collage to extend the picture they made.
As your child masters this skill...
They will begin to name more shapes they see around them.