A collection of the must have resources for teaching young children about 2D shapes!
Having access to quality toys and resources that invite hands-on exploration is key to children developing strong spatial awareness and reasoning skills while building their awareness of 2D shape names and properties.
Another favourite of mine is this tub of geometric shapes from Learning Resources. It's full of lots of different sized shapes that can be transposed on top of each other or easily used together to create new shapes. They can be used for tracing, sorting, shape making and later for fractions.
A firm favourite since we opened the box are these edx Education GeoStix. They are incredibly satisfying to play with!
They link together easily by gently pressing on the multiple connection points which snap together with a lovely soft 'click'. We still coming up with different ways to use our GeoStix - they're ideal for different math concepts like shape, measurement and angles.
I'm often asked for suggestions as to what resources to invest in so I've collected a list of 20 of my favourites for exploring 2D shapes.
Starting with some traditional favourites, you can't go past a set of geoboards. I love these wooden geoboards for exploring the different 2D shapes with rubber bangs or loom bands. Larger clear ones are handy to have too.
Stacking toys are perfect for the preschool set and the right one should be able to be used several different ways - sorted by colour, sorted by shape, as well as for threading. This stacking toy from edx Education is a great choice.
Others like this wooden stacking one with five shapes requires children to manipulate the shapes into place while also working on building number sense to 5. This stacking one requires children to match colours, numbers and shapes to 10.
Shape bean bags are also popular with young children being so tactile. Perfect for throwing or posting into shape sorting boxes you can easily make with some cardboard boxes.
Shape puzzles are another essential item. Chunky simple puzzles are ideal for toddlers but I love this set of 3 puzzles that will grow with your child and introduce them to how shapes can be used to form new shapes as well as fractions.
For play on the go, these different shape puzzles are perfect. They encourage children to manipulate to different shapes to match the cards included helping build visual discrimination skills and their imaginations.
Shape tracing templates are a handy resource for tracing or painting with. Just grab a plastic set to make clean up easy.
Stamping is always popular in preschool and kindergarten. These chunky handle ones are perfect for smaller hands. For older children, why not use 3D shapes as stamps to investigate their attributes and see how the faces are 2D shapes.
Kinetic sand makes an irresistible base for stamping if you want to avoid getting messy. Just add some 3D shapes like these ones with a removable base to stamp or just a sharp pencil for some shape drawing.
I'm a big fan of building toys and there's plenty of these for exploring shape.
Our long time favourite of these are MagnaTiles. We love them! And they are a must-have for early childhood.
We bought our first set just over 7 years ago and have kept adding to them. They are incredibly versatile and so valuable for making early math concepts like shapes, objects and fractions visual.
Other sets children never seem to tire of are things like Rainbow Blocks, STEM Straw Constructors, KEVA Plank Blocks and Magnetic Balls and Sticks. Obviously with any resources with small parts be sure the children using them have outgrown the mouthing stage.
A set or two of these linking blocks are another must for the classroom. You can use them to build with but they can be used to make patterns, for counting, addition and subtraction later.
Pattern blocks are a firm favourite here. We love the traditional wooden pattern blocks which are perfect for exploring tessellation as well as shapes.
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Starting with some traditional favourites, you can't go past a set of geoboards. I love these wooden geoboards for exploring the different 2D shapes with rubber bangs or loom bands. Larger clear ones are handy to have too.
Stacking toys are perfect for the preschool set and the right one should be able to be used several different ways - sorted by colour, sorted by shape, as well as for threading. This stacking toy from edx Education is a great choice.
Others like this wooden stacking one with five shapes requires children to manipulate the shapes into place while also working on building number sense to 5. This stacking one requires children to match colours, numbers and shapes to 10.
Shape bean bags are also popular with young children being so tactile. Perfect for throwing or posting into shape sorting boxes you can easily make with some cardboard boxes.
Shape puzzles are another essential item. Chunky simple puzzles are ideal for toddlers but I love this set of 3 puzzles that will grow with your child and introduce them to how shapes can be used to form new shapes as well as fractions.
For play on the go, these different shape puzzles are perfect. They encourage children to manipulate to different shapes to match the cards included helping build visual discrimination skills and their imaginations.
Shape tracing templates are a handy resource for tracing or painting with. Just grab a plastic set to make clean up easy.
Stamping is always popular in preschool and kindergarten. These chunky handle ones are perfect for smaller hands. For older children, why not use 3D shapes as stamps to investigate their attributes and see how the faces are 2D shapes.
Kinetic sand makes an irresistible base for stamping if you want to avoid getting messy. Just add some 3D shapes like these ones with a removable base to stamp or just a sharp pencil for some shape drawing.
Our long time favourite of these are MagnaTiles. We love them! And they are a must-have for early childhood.
We bought our first set just over 7 years ago and have kept adding to them. They are incredibly versatile and so valuable for making early math concepts like shapes, objects and fractions visual.
Other sets children never seem to tire of are things like Rainbow Blocks, STEM Straw Constructors, KEVA Plank Blocks and Magnetic Balls and Sticks. Obviously with any resources with small parts be sure the children using them have outgrown the mouthing stage.
A set or two of these linking blocks are another must for the classroom. You can use them to build with but they can be used to make patterns, for counting, addition and subtraction later.
Another favourite of mine is this tub of geometric shapes from Learning Resources. It's full of lots of different sized shapes that can be transposed on top of each other or easily used together to create new shapes. They can be used for tracing, sorting, shape making and later for fractions.
A firm favourite since we opened the box are these edx Education GeoStix. They are incredibly satisfying to play with!
They link together easily by gently pressing on the multiple connection points which snap together with a lovely soft 'click'. We still coming up with different ways to use our GeoStix - they're ideal for different math concepts like shape, measurement and angles.
Another resource we love here are these Geometric Shape Building Set from Learning Resources. Whenever I post one of our invitations to make shapes on social media with these I'm inundated with questions about them. And they are as good as they look!
Looking for something more high tech? Pair your iPad with Osmo Little Genius set. We loved using their Tangram and Sticks and Rings Sets.
Or you you're wanting to start exploring coding, I highly recommend Sphero. Controlled by an app, you can program the Sphero to make different shapes and if you add paint, you can even see the shape once the Sphero has finished!
Of course the great thing about many of these resources is they can also be used to teach children about 3D shapes as well making them even better value for money!Or you you're wanting to start exploring coding, I highly recommend Sphero. Controlled by an app, you can program the Sphero to make different shapes and if you add paint, you can even see the shape once the Sphero has finished!