This hands-on shape activity is it!
Ever wonder what it is that inspires curiosity, motivation, and wonder? It’s hands-on shape activities like this that allow children to discover learning through play.
An introduction to 3D shapes has never been better! – Just over here tooting my own horn with this one. (Nothing like a humblebrag.) But hearing my three-year-old correctly find and identify a cylinder was such a joy. He learned something new, and I watched him soak it up like a sponge.
RELATED: Invite play into your every day with these fantastic activity cards.
Does this hands-on shape activity look familiar?
I bet you remember it here when we created Alphabet Poke.
My philosophy? When something works, run with it. Many times we may see a setup and just know we can get a few more miles out of it. This time, I changed out the letters for 3D shapes, and we were off to the races!
My three-year-old was recalling and recognizing 3D shapes!
To be honest, this caught me by surprise.
My goal here was to introduce 3D shapes such as:
- cylinder
- cube
- sphere
- cone
- rectangular prism
- pyramid
I had no idea that after finding the first cylinder, he would be able to remember the name as more were cylinders were picked! The key is trying new things. If your child is ready, they will remember. If they are not, you planted the seed and come back again in a few months.
Learn a few 3D shapes at a time.
I picked ONLY THREE 3D shapes to introduce at a time. Think less is more. You can play the game the first time, adding cubes and the second time with more than one 3D shape. There is no rush to learn everything in one day.
Shapes are something your child will revisit for years to come. The goal here is to introduce.
Remember, learning anything takes exposure and repetition. There is no rush for mastery on day one.
Hands-on activities work because they allow children to take risks.
When preschoolers are exposed to new ideas, being able to touch objects helps a concept stick as they problem-solve.
When learning to draw shapes, try this activity called Mystery Shapes.
Matching shapes is an entertaining way for toddlers to learn one 2D shape at a time.
Using blocks to build with 3D shapes is a smart way to build momentum with play.
All of these shape activities listed above stick, because children get a chance to make decisions and touch objects. This teaching method is a lot more useful than a worksheet!
RELATED: Read about the benefits of hands-on learning n this educational article.
I tossed in these jumbo tweezers for some fine motor strength.
The objective is to poke through the tissue paper and dig out a 3D shape. These tongs are a great tool to help improve pencil grip! We used them to help break through the paper.
Here is everything we used for this hands-on shape activity:
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To set up, I placed one 3D shape in each section of the muffin tin.
Cover the muffin tin with tissue paper.
Add a grid to the right of the activity to place each shape. This grid helps keep thinking organized by having a final destination.
As each 3D shape is found, call out the name. Hearing it and saying it will help your preschooler remember!
When will you try this hands-on shape activity? It’s the best!
