Shape Up: Identifying Shapes
Preschool Math, ESL
by AnneMarie Mann August 5, 2015
Shape up! Your students will develop spatial and coordination skills while using accurate terms to name and
describe two-dimensional shapes.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to identify 2D shapes and use accurate terms to describe them.
Materials and preparation Key terms
Masking tape two-dimensional
Bean bags (1 per group)
Chart paper or whiteboard
Shapes Graph
Class set of Tracing Basic Shapes
Markers
Paper shapes (cluster in various places in the
room on the floor)
Glue sticks
Construction paper
Attachments
Tracing Basic Shapes (PDF)
Shapes Graph (DOCX)
Shapes (DOCX)
Tracing Basic Shapes (PDF)
Introduction (5 minutes)
Tell your students that they are going to learn to identify and name two-dimensional, or flat, shapes.
Show your students examples of shapes, and have them name the shape.
Take a "shape walk" around the classroom, and have students identify shapes when they see them.
EL
Beginning
Preview the lesson content by reading aloud a shape book such as Shapes, Shapes, Shapes By Tana
Hoban
Intermediate
Review shape names using visuals and provide students with a word bank to use when describing each
shape (corner, side, etc.).
Provide students with a visual aid (images of each shape on paper) to use when identifying shapes in the
classroom.
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (5 minutes)
While you draw shapes on the board or chart paper, have your students draw shapes in the air.
If you find it helpful, have students place a shape on the board inside of the shape you drew.
Label each shape with the word. For example, write "circle" underneath the drawing of the circle.
EL
Beginning
Model drawing shapes in the air.
Pass out model shapes for students to touch and trace with their fingers.
Intermediate
Have students repeat each shape name aloud.
Ask students to share what each shape looks like.
Guided Practice (5 minutes)
Point out the shapes that are taped on the floor.
Have one student stand inside each shape, and ask those students to name those shapes.
Explain to your students that they will be playing a game and recording the results on the Shapes Graph.
Demonstrate throwing a bean bag on a shape on the floor. Show students how to make a tally mark on
the graph.
EL
Beginning
Provide shape cards for students to use when identifying shapes on the floor.
Pair students together to name each shape.
Intermediate
Display visuals of each shape for students to reference when they are identifying each floor shape.
Independent working time (5 minutes)
Divide your students into groups, and give each group a bean bag. Give each student a Shapes Graph.
Instruct the groups to take turns throwing a bean bag, identifying the shape it landed on. Ask your
students to record it on the graph.
Continue this until every student has gone.
EL
Beginning
Preview how to use a graph by modeling in a small group.
Explain the instructions in students' home language (L1) if possible.
Intermediate
Provide each group with shape cards to reference.
Check for understanding by asking students to repeat the directions back to you.
Related books and/or media
VIDEO: Shape Song
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Differentiation
Support:
For students who may require support, arrange for them to be in a group that has a student with stronger
shape identification skills. Give your students the Tracing Basic Shapes worksheet to complete.
Enrichment:
For advanced students, have them count the tally marks and compare the results.
Assessment (5 minutes)
Review the graph with students.
Have students identify the shapes when comparing results on graph.
EL
Beginning
Listen to students at work to assess if they are able to identify each shape and correctly mark it on their
graph.
Intermediate
Check for any misconceptions or areas of confusion as students are working. Refer back to these areas in
a follow-up lesson or with the whole class during the closing portion.
Review and closing (10 minutes)
Have your students make a collage with the precut shapes.
Ask students to describe their work. Encourage students to use "shape words" when discussing their
work.
EL
Beginning
Explain what a collage is and model how to create one.
Share step-by-step instructions in student home language (L1) as possible.
Provide a word bank of shape words for students to use when describing their collage.
Intermediate
Provide students with sentence starters and sentence frames to utilize when discussing their collage with
a peer.
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Shapes!
Practice tracing the shapes. Then color them all in.
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Shapes!
Practice tracing the shapes. Then color them all in.
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