Geoboard Shapes

Students can practice their knowledge of 2-Dimensional shape names and characteristics* With their own geoboards and elastics, students first play and see what 2-D shapes they can construct. * After about five minutes of this, ask students to clear their board and wait for instructions on what shape to construct. * Teacher calls out a shape name. * Students construct the shape on the geoboard. * Have students clear board and repeat* Once students have the hang of this, move on to describing shapes that they are to construct (ie. "this shape has three sides and three corners").

Magazine Shapes
Students will identify and sort 2-Dimensional shapes that they find in images in magazines.
* Leaf through a magazine, cutting out images that have 2-D shapes in them (ie. stove=square, fridge=rectange, roof=triangle, etc.) * After cutting out each shape, ask students what the name of the shape is. Get a student to place the shape in the appropriate section on the large piece of paper.
* Repeat until students comprehend.* Students work on activity on their own, following demonstration. * After sorting has been completed and checked by teacher, students can either glue all the shapes as organized, OR glue the shapes to create a collage or picture.

Pattern Placemats

Students will identify and form a pattern out of 2-D shapes, then will transfer this pattern into creating placemats. * On the chalkboard/chart-paper draw all the shapes that are available in the fabric scraps. * Ask students to draw a pattern using these shapes on a piece of paper. Shapes can be used more than once, and not all shapes need to be used (eg. triange-triangle-circle-square, triangle-triangle-circle-square...). * Divide class into groups, with the appropriate number of bins of fabric shapes. * Hand out the 8.5 X 11 fabric rectangles (soon to be placemat). * Ask students to transfer the pattern that they drew to their 'placemats' using the small fabric shapes. The fabric shapes will form a border around the edge of the 'placemat' when glued down.
Will take about a half-day to dry.

Geometric Shapes Hat
Students will identify and use a variety of 2-D shapes to make a hat. * Make a base for the hat with a strip of tagboard. Wrap it around your head and pull on both ends until it is comfortable. Staple the ends together. * Get another strip of tagboard and staple one end to the front of the base (where your forehead will be if you put it on)and staple the other end to the back of the base (where the back of your head will be). * Start gluing on the variety of shapes on the tagboard strips. Demonstrate different ways that they can be placed on (overlapped, folded, curled, etc..). It would be nice if there was a 3 dimensional effect to the hat. * Let dry.* Students repeat the process. * Share hats with classmates, identifying all of the shapes used.

Resource Books
-Maebelle's Suitcase, Tricia Tusa, Pub. Alladin Paperbacks, 1991

Symmetrical Paint Blottings

Students will examine the concept of a half as part of a whole, as well as examining symmetry.
* Fold a piece of paper in half. * Quickly paint a design on one half of the paper, using ample paint and ensuring the design is painted snug with the fold line. * Before paint dries, fold blank half of paper over painted half. Smooth over so that image is created on other half of paper. * Open folded paper and allow to dry.* Students repeat this process.