Shapes & Sizes is a “school-readiness” type of award. The purpose is to explore and practice these concepts they are currently learning in kindergarten and pre-k. Most of your Eager Beavers will already know some shapes: circle, square, and triangle. Some might know all of the shapes in the award and be ready to teach you about a few more! And a few might not know any of their shapes (especially if you have some younger kids in your class). Some will probably not understand the difference between a square and a rectangle. Kids of all levels can find something to enjoy in this award.
Remember, your job is to help them explore their world – it isn’t to quiz them. Talk about the shapes. Call them by name. But don’t worry if some of your Eager Beavers leave the meeting still not knowing that an octagon has eight sides and is the shape of a stop sign. They have plenty of time to continue learning this over the next few years.
Story: Round is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes
Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong is a book about a girl discovering the shapes in the world around her. Most of the objects are Asian in nature, and many of the objects will be recognizable by children everywhere. This book only covers a few shapes: Circles, Squares, and Rectangles. This story will help inspire the kids to look around their world for different shapes and fits nicely with the shapes walk later in the meeting.
Craft: Animal Shapes Craft
Fulfills Requirements #3
Ami at Homeschool Share has some cute cut and paste animal shapes crafts. There are five different animals and come in both black and white and pre-colored. She also has vehicles. I chose the precolored lion. We added large googly eyes for fun.
I gave my five year old one of the other animals to see how age-appropriate the cutting would be. She jumped in on the project, and was able to complete the entire project on her own, following the little picture to glue it together properly. I gave her the cow as it had more pieces (since she’s one of the older kids, I hoped a higher challenge level would give me a better time estimate for the younger kids). She did fine cutting everything – the eyes will be a challenge for your younger eager beavers. I learned that she loves these crafts, and that it could take most of our meeting.
I chose to precut everything for the craft to save meeting time. They already have another cutting activity for this award.
(Play) Measuring Up: Are you as tall as a…?
Fulfills Requirements #5,6
I posted pictures of animals, big and small, on the walls in the hall outside the Eager Beaver classroom. Using the measurements listed in the Leader’s Guide, I measured out the size of the animal on the wall (or floor) with painter’s tape next to the photograph.
The class walked through the hall and compared the height/lengths of different animals. The kids can see how tall they are in comparison to the animals. Talk about Big, Bigger, Biggest and Small, Smaller, Smallest with them.
(Kindergarten Skills) I Can Draw Shapes
Fulfills Requirements #1
Some of your Eager Beavers know all of their basic shapes and can easily draw them. Many of your Eager Beavers are still learning pencil control. I created this worksheet to have options so you can challenge each individual kid at the level they are at. (Printable in the pdf packet below.)
- Level 1: Trace each shape.
- Level 2: Draw each shape. If these kids are fast, encourage them to trace the shapes too.
I wouldn’t expect most of your Eager Beavers to do level 2. I’d only ask it of the kids who finish quickly. If some of your kids trace the shapes and draw the shapes and are waiting for the rest of the class (or if you have a plenty of time in your meeting), encourage them to color the shapes. Regardless of their level, talk with them about the names of the shapes. Ask them to name them. Note the shape they are working on. Ask them what shape is their favorite!
(Activity) Shapes Walk
Fulfills Requirements #4
Walk around the church/classroom (depending on time) and find shapes! Which shapes do you see the most? If you are short on time or the church is busy with other activities, stay in the classroom. But, if you have the opportunity to wander the church searching for shapes, take it! My adventurers always love the opportunity to wander through the church (especially the back passages they aren’t usually in), and it will give them a chance to get some wiggles out.
(Kindergarten Skills) Cutting & Pasting Shapes
Fulfills Requirements #2
I created a simple cut and paste activity. (Printable in the pdf packet below.) In addition to reinforcing shapes and their names, the purpose of this activity is to practice cutting skills. As much as possible, Eager Beavers should do the cutting on this activity. The cutting won’t be perfect, and it doesn’t need to be! Talk about the shapes they are cutting and pasting. (“What shape is that, Johnny?” “You are doing a great job cutting the circle, Sara.” “What shape is blue?”)
(Activity) Shapes & Sizes
Fulfills Requirements #7
The Eager Beaver workbook has a simple activity to review biggest and smallest. Color the correct object or underline it if you are short on time.
Free Printables
If you made it all the way to end of the post, leave a comment telling which shape is your favorite!