Lesson One- Sorting
Objectives:
Students will know two-dimensional shapes (circle, triangle, square, diamond, rectangle, oval) describing similarities and differences.
Students will identify attributes of different shapes (for example, edges, corners, curves).
Students will sort and classify objects by shapes.
Time Required:
Three/Four -one hour sessions (you may want to introduce two shapes at a time)
Vocabulary:
circle
rectangle
triangle
square
diamond
oval
edges/sides
curves
corners
Materials:
Computer with Internet Access
Color Zoo by Louis Ehlert
Big Shape Cutouts
Attribute Blocks or Links (different colors and sizes)
Any Paint Program on the computer
Procedures:
Introduce the shapes by using the Power Point Presentation.
Display the Big Shape Cutouts one by one. Have students identify the shape and describe each one. Pass out the attribute blocks and have children handle them and describe. Repeat the activity with each shape.
Help children find the different shapes around the classroom.
Read poem of shapes you are introducing that day.
Using the attribute blocks or links, have children compare the shapes. Guide them to see how the shapes are the same and different. (for example, squares and rectangles are the same because they both have four sides, four straight edges, and four corners however, they are different because a square has four equal sides while a rectangle has two long sides and two short sides). Do this with all the shapes. You might just want to do two shapes a day; it is up to the teacher.
Have students work with partners or you can do as a whole group. Give partners large and small attribute blocks or links. Have students sort the attribute blocks/links by shape and by other attributes and explain how they sorted the attribute blocks/links. As children are working ask them questions such as: What shapes do you see? How are the small and big shapes alike? different? How did you sort the shapes? Which shapes have straight sides, or edges? How many edges/sides does each have? What does a corner look like? Which shape does not have edges or corners? Describe the shape of a circle?
Sing shape songs of the shapes you introduced on that day.
Once you have finished introducing all the shapes read the story Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert. As you are reading the story help students identify and discuss the shapes used for different parts of the animal, such as circle eyes, triangle ears, or a rectangle body.
Evaluation:
Have students use a paint program on the computer to make various shapes of different sizes and colors. Have them print their shapes, cut and glue their shapes on a piece of paper to create a zoo animal of their choice. Have them write or dictate a sentence with the shapes they used to create their zoo animal. Display their work on a bulletin board titled "Our Shape Zoo."
Extension Activity:
Students can play Shape Cave where they will identify different geometrical shapes to create images.
Students can play Dam Jammer where they will plug the leaky dam with shapes.
Students can play Shape Racer where they will drag shapes to their corresponding places while racing the clock.
Home Learning:
Students will write two riddles about two shapes of their choice using the Shape Riddle Handout. Have students share their riddles with the class the next day.
