Teaching shapes to young learners can be both fun and educational when you combine hands-on activities with storytelling. Using captivating books that highlight shapes in their illustrations and narratives, you can spark children’s curiosity and help them identify shapes in the world around them. Here, we explore three delightful books and suggest practical activities to reinforce learning through storytelling.
Book 1: Shapes with Little Fish by Lucy Cousins
Lucy Cousins’ Shapes with Little Fish is a charming and inventive book that takes young readers on an underwater adventure with Little Fish. Through vibrant illustrations and straightforward text, it introduces children to basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. Isn’t that exciting? This book’s playful design and interactive features make it perfect for sparking early interest in shape recognition and imaginative thinking. By tracing the outlines of shapes like circles, squares, and triangles with their fingers, kids can actively engage with Shapes with Little Fish while developing fine motor skills and building pre-writing confidence. It’s a fun and hands-on way to enhance their learning experience!
A fantastic activity to pair with this book is inviting kids to “catch” shapes of fish and pair them with their matching aquariums. It’s a fun way to combine storytelling with hands-on learning. Check out the detailed activity here and download our free learning materials!
Book 2: Shapes at the Party by Kat Macleod
Once the little ones have dived into the underwater world of shapes, they can bring their newfound knowledge to land with Shapes at the Party by Kat Macleod. This delightful book takes children to a lively party where shapes like circles, squares, and triangles transform into colourful decorations and festive items. Isn’t that fantastic?
To extend the fun, encourage kids to categorise shapes into groups and use them to design their own party decorations. This activity not only enhances their shape recognition but also develops problem-solving skills. Check out the activity in detail here and download the free learning resources!
Book 3: Shapes of Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
To round off the learning adventure, Shapes of Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft provides a culturally enriching exploration of shapes in the context of Australia’s diverse landscapes and Indigenous art. Using bold and vibrant illustrations, the book highlights everyday objects and environments through shapes such as circles, triangles, and rectangles. How awesome is that?
A great follow-up activity is asking kids to sort, describe, and name familiar two-dimensional shapes inspired by the artwork. It’s a wonderful way to foster creativity, critical thinking, and an appreciation for culture. You can find the activity details here and download our free learning materials.
Teaching shapes to Foundation Year students can be a delightful journey when you pair storytelling with hands-on activities. Books like Shapes with Little Fish, Shapes at the Party and Shapes of Australia provide rich opportunities to engage young learners in shape recognition and creativity. By integrating literature and play, you not only make learning fun but also memorable. Try these activities and watch your students’ excitement for shapes grow!
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