Winter break is over, and many of us are transitioning our students back into the routines of the classroom. The first couple of weeks back from a break, I prefer to use math center activities in my room that review skills the students are already familiar with. My whole group teaching will hit on some new things, but it is easier for my Kindergarten students to readjust to routines and procedures if the content is familiar such as 2D shape practice! I am going to share 3 Kindergarten shape activities to try this winter.
2D Shapes are the perfect thing to review after a long break! There are so many fun ways to engage Kindergarten students with shape review. Today I’m going to share with you three of my favorite activities, as well as where you can find more ideas!
Kindergarten Shape Activity 1: Try a 2D Shape Bump Activity!
Bump! is a fun game meant to be played with two players. Students choose a mat with different shapes on it. In the winter months, I like to use a mat that has different shapes that look like snowflakes! There’s nothing more fun in the winter than dreaming of a snow day, after all.
Each student will need a different set of cubes or other manipulatives. The manipulatives they use must be different colors. The first student spins a spinner and places his or her cube on the shape the spinner lands on. The second student does the same. The catch is if the second student spins the same shape as the first student, they can bump that student’s cube off and replace it with their own!
If a student spins the same shape at two different times, and they haven’t been bumped off, they can place a second cube on the same shape. This means that they are safe. They cannot be bumped off after that.
The student who uses up all of their cubes first is the winner!
Kindergarten Shape Activity 2: Try a 2D Shape Color by Code Activity!
Color by Code can be used to review so many different skills. It works just as well for shapes! This is an independent activity, so it works well as seat work, morning work, or early finisher work. Students color in the picture according to the key on the page. Different shapes require that different colors be used on the page. It’s great review that results in a cute picture! The students are always excited to figure out the mystery picture at the end of their work!
Kindergarten Shape Activity 3: Try a 2D Shape Match it Up Activity!
This is an all time favorite shape activity with my Kindergarten students. Anything where kids can use snap cubes is a win in our classroom! To play this fun shape matching game, students will use the key on the side of the page. They will match different colored cubes to the different shapes on their mat. This can be done with a partner, where each student takes turns adding a cube to the mat. Or it can be done independently.
To save ink, you can print these pages in black-and-white and let students color in their own key! And the best part is, many of these activities are low prep! Just print and go and you have math centers for the week, or even the month, ready to go!
These fun activities, along with a dozen others, are in my Kindergarten Winter 2-D shape activities and games set! They make great centers, independent work, or small group activities. Because so many of the activities come in game form, you can print and laminate now and use for many years to come. They are the perfect thing to pull out the week after a long break and your students will love them!
