- Reading the Book
- Begin by reading Shapes at the Party aloud.
- Pause throughout the story to discuss and identify shapes (e.g., “What shape is the party hat?” or “How many circles do you see in the balloons?”).
- Encourage students to guess which shapes might appear next in the party scene.
- Shape Colouring Activity
- Hand out a Shape Party colouring sheet to each student.
- Explain the colour-coding key for shapes:
- Allow children to choose their favourite colours for each shape.
- Explicitly explain vertical and horizontal shapes if needed.
- Guide students to identify shapes in the colouring sheet, especially shapes within shapes.
- Shape Discussion and Creativity
- As students work, walk around to ask questions like, “How many circles can you find in your scene?” or “Which colour are the triangles?”
- Once they finish colouring, encourage them to add creative details to their party scene to personalise their work. For example:
- Draw patterns, stars, or ribbons, or
- Stick their favourite party-themed stickers onto the sheet. Stickers could be used as rewards for their colouring effort.
- Share and Celebrate
- Play festive music while each student shares their completed party scene with the class.
- Celebrate everyone’s effort with applause and a cheerful “classroom party” vibe.
Shape Party Colouring
The Book
Shapes at the Party: A Book of Shapes
Written & illustrated by Kat Macleod, published by Thames & Hudson
This vibrant and engaging book introduces young readers to the concept of shapes in a fun and playful setting. Through its dynamic illustrations, children explore a variety of shapes—such as circles, triangles, and squares—while following the excitement of a party scene. The book aligns with AC9MFSP01 (Foundation Year, Mathematics), which focuses on identifying and describe familiar two-dimensional shapes within objects in the environment. As children engage with the visuals, they develop geometric awareness and recognition skills in an enjoyable and meaningful context. With its bold artwork and interactive storytelling, Shapes at the Party fosters curiosity and learning through real-world applications of geometry, making it a valuable resource for early mathematical exploration.
Resource creator
Lian Khanh
Subject
Level
Description
Students will explore basic shapes through an interactive party-themed story. They will identify shapes in real-world objects, classify them, and colour each shape using their own defined colour.
The activity works well when students can already name and recognise basic 2D shapes (e.g., circle, square, triangle, rectangle).
Learning Intentions
• We are learning to recognise 2D shapes in everyday objects.
Successful Criteria
• I can find and match shapes to real-world objects in a party setting.
• I can classify shapes correctly based on their attributes.
• I can colour in each shape using the colour I defined for it.
Curriculum Alignment
AC9MFSP01 9.0 (Mathematics Foundation): Sort, name and create familiar shapes; recognise and describe familiar shapes within objects in the environment, giving reasons
• sorting a collection of shapes into groups based on different features such as the number of sides, colour or size, and describing how they have been sorted.
• creating a picture using a variety of shapes and a range of materials, including objects to trace around, describing the shapes they have created or used and sharing why they chose each shape in their picture
• creating familiar shapes using groups of people; for example, holding hands and creating a circle
• recognising and naming shapes that are (close to) rectangles, squares, triangles and circles in component parts of everyday items; for example, on bicycles, toy vehicles or kitchen pantry items
• describing and naming shapes within objects that can be observed on Country/Place, recreating and sorting into groups based on their shape
Materials
- The Book: Shapes at the Party by Kat Macleod
- Shape Party colouring sheet
- Party-themed stickers
Instructions
Extensions
Number and Algebra
- Level 1 ❯ How many circles can you find in the party? Focus: Counting the given shape.
- Level 1 ❯ Please write the number of circles on your mini board. Focus: Counting a shape collection and writing a numeral.
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