{"id":2887,"date":"2010-07-12T20:23:31","date_gmt":"2010-07-13T01:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2887"},"modified":"2010-07-12T20:23:31","modified_gmt":"2010-07-13T01:23:31","slug":"early-childhood-shapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2010\/07\/12\/early-childhood-shapes\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Childhood Shapes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following resources are great for using with younger children to help them understand shapes.\u00a0 These books, websites, and resources will help with shape recognition, visual discrimination, as well as matching and sorting shapes.<\/p>\n

Books about shapes<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Shapes, Shapes, Shapes<\/a> written and illustrated by Tana Hoban<\/p>\n

Each page contains a fantastic photograph of an everyday life setting, however when you look closer each page is full of shapes!\u00a0 Doors are shaped like rectangles, the supports on phone towers form triangles and tambourines form circles.\u00a0 Tana Hoban’s book of photographs helps teach children to find shapes in the world around them.<\/p>\n

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Color Zoo<\/a> written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert<\/p>\n

Each page of Ehlert’s book contains a different zoo animal and each zoo animal is made out of a series of cut-out shapes.\u00a0 As you turn the pages one shape is removed and a new animal is revealed.\u00a0 The bright colors and unique designs of the pictures will keep children interested and involved.<\/p>\n

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The Secret Birthday Message<\/a> written and illustrated by Eric Carle<\/p>\n

When Tim wakes up on the morning of his birthday to find a secret message reading:<\/p>\n

“When the [semi-circle] comes up, look for the biggest [star].\u00a0 Below it you’ll see a[n oval]. Behind that is the [triangle]. Go in. Look up through [zigzags] walk straight ahead to a [rectangle]. Open it.\u00a0 You will see a [rectangle]. Climb through it.\u00a0 That’s will you will find your birthday gift!”<\/p>\n

Tim has to figure out the clues in order to find his birthday present.<\/p>\n

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Ship Shapes<\/a> written by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Siobhan Bell<\/p>\n

This book is about the shapes on the sea.\u00a0 The illustrations in this book are fantastic.\u00a0 Every page is quilted,not drawn, giving it a different feel than other shape books.\u00a0 Better yet, each page is filled with shapes!\u00a0 It covers the basic shapes: circle, square, triangle and rectangle as well as star, semi circle, diamond, crescent, and oval.<\/p>\n

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Circus Shapes<\/a> written by Stuart J. Murphy, illustrated by Edward Miller<\/p>\n

This book helps you find shapes within a circus.\u00a0 It introduces squares, triangles, rectangles and circles.\u00a0 What makes this book excellent for teaching shapes it that it goes beyond the standard square, triangle, rectangle, and circle.\u00a0 On the pages where shapes are introduced, the bottom left page depicts examples of that shape in various sizes and rotations.<\/p>\n

Resources for Children<\/strong><\/p>\n