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Lesson plan · Grades K-2 · 30 minutes

Shape Talk

I can describe a shape in full sentences using the words side, corner, flat, solid and face.

▶ Open the tool Download the tool
Standard
WIDA.ELD-3 WIDA-ELD-2020
WIDA.Explain WIDA-ELD-2020
Shape
Model, then make
Grouping
Whole class on the carpet, then partners.
You need
The tool on the big screen. A bag of real shapes or classroom objects (a block, a ball, a can, a cone). Sentence frame cards: "It has ___ sides." "It has ___ corners." "It is flat / solid."
Tool
curioclass.org/tools/shape-talk/
  1. Hook4 min
  2. Model8 min
  3. Make10 min
  4. Share5 min
  5. Exit check3 min

Before class

  • Open Meet the shapes. Keys 1 to 3 switch modes.
  • Put the real objects in a bag for the Hook.
  • Accept "point" or "vertex" for corner. The tool says "corner" because that is the K-1 word.

Hook 4 min

  1. Reach into the bag without looking and describe one object: "It is solid. It can roll. It looks like a can." Children guess.
  2. "Today you get to be the describer. First, let's learn the words."

Model 8 min

  1. Tap the triangle and read the sentences together: "It is flat. It has 3 sides. It has 3 corners."
  2. Press Count with me. Count the sides and corners out loud as they light up.
  3. Tap the cube. "Is it flat or solid?" Read the faces sentence together. Children touch a real block's faces.
  4. Compare the square and the rectangle: "How are they the same? How are they different?"

Make 10 min

  1. Switch to Guess my shape. Read the first clue aloud and press Cross out. "Which shapes are left?"
  2. Read clues until children can guess. If a guess is wrong, read the reason the tool gives together.
  3. Switch to Partner talk. One child is the describer. Everyone else closes their eyes while the describer holds peek.
  4. The describer points at the frames on screen and says the sentences. The class guesses. Do three or four describers.

Share 5 min

  1. Partners take turns at their spots: one picks a real object from the bag and describes it with the frame cards, and the other guesses.
  2. Ask a few partners to share their best sentence with the class.

Exit check 3 min

Hold up one real object. Each child tells you one full sentence about it: "It has ." or "It is ." Listen for the math words. Children who answer with one word try again with a frame.

Support and stretch

  • Support: beginners can answer with one word in the blank. Let them point at the frame while they speak.
  • Support: stay with the flat shapes before the solids.
  • Stretch: fluent speakers add "It looks like..." with something from the room.
  • Stretch: "Which solids can roll? Which can stack? Which can do both?"

Short on time

  • Meet the shapes with the triangle and Count with me (5 min).
  • One round of Guess my shape (5 min).

How each button works is in the teacher notes. From Curio Class, free under CC BY 4.0: change it, print it, share it.