Giant shape match

Wednesday 28th November 2018

Giant Shape matching is really beneficial for children’s mathematical thinking and inquiry. Our children were able to identifying shapes by describing their characteristics and also experimenting by being able to problem solve; either rotating the shape or flipping back and forth the shape so that it fits. We could observe our children’s cognitive thinking skills being challenged.

For our activity, we used a large sheet of butchers paper. We drew 2D shapes of the blocks we used in the activity to encourage the children to recognise and match the wooden block with the shape drawn on the sheet. Many shapes have the similar parts, so it might be challenge to identify all the blocks but our children persisted until they found a match.

The children were required to pick up the blocks and manipulate them, so they could match the block to the shape frames on the large paper. We joined together as a group as we discussed our way through the activity, asking many open ended questions that provoked higher order thinking.

We asked, "What were the differences and the similarities?"

Overall, this experience has allowed the children to challenge their fine motor control, coordination, concentration and emergent understanding of 2D and 3D shapes.