Skill: Shapes
Shape Sort
Children participate in a relay to sort a variety of pictured items by shape.
Materials
Players: 3 teams
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• title card (page 8)
• game directions (page 9)
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Circle
Square
Triangle
• shape strips (pages 8 and 9)
• shape cards (pages 10 and 11)
• answer key (page 11)
• pocket chart
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
• paper box lid (for shape-card tray)
• masking tape
Getting Ready
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Copy the title card, game directions, shape strips, shape cards, and answer
key. Cut out all of the game components. Place the title card in the top pocket
of the pocket chart and the shape strips in the next pocket. Set the paper
box lid upside down—to serve as a card tray—on the floor below the chart.
Spread the shape cards facedown in the tray. (You might use pieces of rolled
tape on the bottom of the tray to keep it from slipping around during play.)
Then tape a long start line on the floor, parallel to the chart and approximately
10–12 feet from it. Place the directions faceup and the answer key facedown
in a pocket at the bottom of the chart. (Or use a clothespin to clip the answers
to the side of the chart.)
Introducing the Game
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Review shapes by displaying each shape strip and naming the shape on
it. Then show children each game card one at a time. Have them name
the object and its shape. Invite a volunteer to place the card with the
corresponding shape strip. Finally, form three teams (3–6 children per
team) to play the game.
Hel pfu l Tips
✷ For younger children,
attach to each
category strip a shape
cutout that represents
the shape named on
the strip.
✷ Add interest to shape
cards by affixing
seasonal or holiday
stickers to the back of
each card.
Extending the Game
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• Call out a shape and have children identify objects in the classroom
that have that shape.
• Invite children to create more game cards by cutting out examples of
different shapes from magazines.
• Place the pocket chart game in a center. Include a timer and challenge
children to sort the shape cards within a given time.
7
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Square
Circle
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Shape Sort
Shapes
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Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Shape Sort . Title Card and Shape Strips
Shape Sort . Directions and Shape Strip
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Players: 3 teams
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Shape Sort
Directions for Play
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
team chooses a shape strip. Team members line up
1 Each
on the Start line in front of their shape.
sounds a signal to start the game. The first player
2 Aonplayer
each team walks quickly to the tray of shape cards.
player looks for a card that matches his or her team’s
3 The
shape. When a card is found, the player puts it in a pocket
below the shape.
player goes back to Start and tags the next player on
4 The
his or her team. That player walks quickly to the tray and
repeats step 3.
playing until one team matches six cards to its
5 Keep
shape. That team then checks its answers. If correct,
that team wins the game.
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Triangle
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Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Shape Sort . Shape Cards
10
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Shape Sort . Shape Cards and Answer Key
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Answer Key
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Shape Sort
Circle
Square
Triangle
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11