OBJECTIVE:
Your child will use detective skills to figure
out what mystery shape is in the bag. It may
be a 2-DIMENSIONAL shape (2D shapes are
flat) or a 3-DIMENSIONAL shape (3D shapes
can hold something inside of them).
Mystery Bag
• Describe the shapes. Talk about the ATTRIBUTES (something
that tells us what an object looks like) of the materials. For example: number of sides, type of lines (curved or straight), etc.
This shape has 3
sides and looks like a
slice of pizza!
3.
4.
2D Shapes
Rectangle
Star
Circle
Heart
Square
Triangle
3D Shapes
Cube
Sphere
Pyramid
Cone
Rectangular
Prism
Cylinder
• A shape has gone missing! Tell your child that they are a
detective and their job is to solve the mystery of which shape
is missing!
• Place one 2-DIMENSIONAL (2D) shape in the mystery bag.
• Ask your child to act like a detective by leaving their hand in
the bag and describing what they feel without looking.
1
2
3
4
“Describe what you see.”
“Can you find that shape on the Shape Sheet?”
LAY
• Ask the detective to predict, or guess, what shape is in the mystery bag. Show your child the Shape Sheet and let them point to
their 2D shape prediction.
I feel 4 points and 4
sides. It reminds me of the
shape of a cracker. I think
it is a square!
SK:
2.
LAY
• Allow your child time to freely explore the materials provided
for this game.
SK:
1.
©
XPLORE
This shape is round
and looks like a
basketball!
What You Need:
“What do you predict is the mystery shape? Why is that
your prediction?”
SK:
“Detective, tell me something about what
you feel in the bag.”
LAY
• Pull the mystery shape out of the bag. Did the detective solve
the mystery?
• Discuss the ATTRIBUTES of the mystery shape (the number of
sides, number of straight lines, number of curved lines, etc.)
• Try playing again with a new 2D shape.
It is a square. It has
4 equal sides and 4
corners, or angles.
SK:
“What picture did you see in your head while you were
feeling the mystery shape?”
“How does the shape compare to your prediction or
guess?”
WARNING: Small parts are a choking hazard for children under 3 years.
Mystery Bag
Want to learn more about playing math?
Visit: www.zenomath.org
START SMALL
BE PATIENT
KEEP IT FUN
(Continued)
©
UILD
• Play again, but this time place a 3-DIMENSIONAL (3D) shape in
the bag. Ask your child to describe what they feel.
• Have your child use their detective skills to predict what shape is
in the bag. Show your child the Shape Sheet and let them point to
their 3D shape prediction.
• Compare the mystery shape to your prediction.
UILD
• Place several shapes in the bag.
• Name a specific shape for your child. Ask your child to reach
into the bag and see if they can find the shape that you named.
• If your child is unfamiliar with the shape you named, then show
them that shape on the Shape Sheet.
It feels like an ice
cream cone!
SK:
“Does the mystery shape remind you of anything that you have seen or felt before? Tell me
about it.”
ONNECT
• Play “Guess My Shape” with your child.
5
6
7
8
• Explain that your child will be a detective and their job is to try
to guess what shape you are thinking of.
• Describe a shape to your child. Allow them several tries to guess
what shape you are describing. Draw the shape to provide an
extra clue to your child.
I’m thinking of a
shape that has 4
sides and 4 angles. 2
sides are long and 2
sides are short.
SK:
Can you find the star in
the bag?
A rectangle!
“What part of my description was most helpful? Why?”
SK:
“How could you tell that was the correct
shape? What ATTRIBUTES did you feel for
when you reached in the bag?”
ONNECT
• Allow your child to describe a shape while you play the role of
detective.
• If your child finds it difficult to describe the shape, allow them
to try to draw a picture of it.
This is a picture
of the shape I am
thinking of. It goes
around and around
and around!
SK:
“How would you describe the shape you are thinking
of?” OR “Tell me about the shape you are drawing.”
WARNING: Small parts are a choking hazard for children under 3 years.
2D Shapes
Rectangle
Shape Sheet
Star
Circle
Heart
Square
Triangle
3D Shapes
Cube
Sphere
Pyramid
Cone
Rectangular
Prism
Cylinder