Bear Shapes Match for Preschoolers
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One of the things preschoolers need to learn is to recognize and name shapes. To accomplish this task, you need to provide them with many hands-on activities, and this FREE Bear Shapes Match activity is not only pretty but also fun and will help your preschoolers practice recognizing and matching shapes.
This pack includes the shapes circle, crescent, ellipse, heart, hexagon, octagon, parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, semicircle, square, star, trapezoid, and triangle. You can get it at the end of this post.
Bear Shapes Match
Begin by introducing each shape one at a time, using real objects or picture books featuring the shapes to make learning concrete. Then present each shape again, asking children to name it and find a real-world object that matches it.
This hands-on activity will promote meaningful learning by encouraging children to actively participate in matching shapes, sorting objects, and even comparing, contrasting, and discussing their observations.
This activity is ideal for classroom and homeschool environments, and only needs a handful of materials to prepare, which are:
- FREE Bear Shapes Match activity
- Printer.
- White cardstock.
- Laminator and laminator pouches, or
- Scissors.
Print several sets of the bear mats and shapes using white cardstock. Then cut out the bear shapes and laminate everything to make them last longer. Place the mats and cut-out bear shapes in different centers and invite the children to match the bear shapes.
How to Use It
This Bear Shapes Match activity can be used in many ways, such as:
- Small group activity.
- Math center option.
- Writing center option.
- Take-home game.
- Quiet area option.
Organize children into small groups or pairs and give each group a set of matching mats and bear shape cards. Invite the children to choose a bear shape, say its name, find the matching shape on the mat, and place it there. This practice will promote teamwork and cooperation.
Once they finish matching the shapes, challenge them to match each shape card to a real object to promote cooperative learning and critical thinking, and make learning more meaningful.
After collecting objects to match the shape cards, invite children to compare their findings to the shape cards and discuss why they decided that certain objects match specific shapes. Ask them to describe the shapes and objects to promote vocabulary development.
Combine this activity with story time by reading books about shapes or geometric concepts.
This activity strengthens the children’s shape knowledge, concentration, one-to-one correspondence, visual discrimination, and fine motor skills, among other skills.
Storybooks About Shapes
- Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stone Walsh tells the story of three clever mice who use shapes to find a funny way to trick a sneaky cat.
- Shapes by Wonder House Books is a beautiful picture book that introduces children to different shapes. It is filled with well-researched words and eye-catching images, helping them to associate words with pictures and build a perfect vocabulary.
- Big Box of Shapes by Wiley Blevins tells the story of how Lulu and Max use their imaginations to explore shapes found in a box in new and exciting ways.
- What Shape Are You Today? by Miranda Millman is a read-aloud-friendly, easy-to-understand book that helps little learners recognize and name common shapes, build early geometry vocabulary, celebrate differences and self-expression, using colorful characters.
- Shape Stories by Amanda Shackelford is a fun, rhyming adventure that invites children to explore how circles, squares, triangles, and more can come together to create pictures, patterns, and even stories, helping them see that shapes are all around them.
- Tangled: A Story About Shapes by Anne Miranda rhyming story about an unruly gang of sixteen geometric shapes who get tangled in the neighborhood jungle gym until their friend comes to their rescue and order is restored.
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews is a unique and fun picture-counting book that will help children develop visual learning skills, explore creativity, and practice counting, all in one.
- Leo Loves Shapes: A First Shapes Adventure by Siomara Malta Nicacio uses simple scenes, bright illustrations, and clear language to introduce children to shapes in a natural, playful, and engaging way.
Pin It for Later
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable, but want to save it for later, pin it to one of your Pinterest boards so it’s available when you need it.
I hope you enjoy this FREE Bear Shapes Match activity, which will help your preschoolers learn or review their shapes. Don’t forget to grab your printable by clicking on the link below.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.D. Please let me know if any of these ideas worked for you or if you think I need to add or replace something. My goal is to help you in any way I can, and I’m not too fond of anything other than posting something you might find helpful.
