“I Spy” and Shape Hunt in the Garden

Part of the "Fall into Healthy Shapes" Collection

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Goal

Students will identify two dimensional shapes in the garden.

Estimated Time

N/A

Setting Required

Outside

Standards

  • GPS.MCC.K.G.1. Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind.
  • GPS.MCC.K.G.2. Correctly name shapes regardless of orientations or overall size.

Materials

  • Shape Hunt handout (1 per student)
  • Clipboards (1 per student)
  • Pencils (1 per student)
  • Optional from the previous lesson:
    • Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Fall Shapes by Felicia Sanzari
    • Selected shape posters created by class

Procedures

  1. Review common 2-dimensional shapes with the class: circle, square, rectangle, triangle. Optional: Use the selected shape posters created by the class or review Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Fall Shapes by Felicia Sanzari
  2. Model finding these shapes in the garden by playing I Spy as a whole group, looking for certain shapes that can be seen in the garden from the gathering area. Questions can be asked for clues using positional words (next to, beside, above, beneath, below, etc) such as Is the triangle next to the flowers?
  3. Provide each student with a shape hunt chart labeled with shape names and a picture of each shape as a model.
    Technology Integration: If cameras are available, the teacher can provide students with index cards that show each of the shapes. Then their challenge is to find those shapes in the garden and take a photo of the object in the garden with the shape card next to it.
  4. Instruct students to explore the garden in search of these shapes. When they find something that resembles that shape, they should sketch it in the space next to that shapes name. Remind students of expectations and boundaries, as well as modeling for them the call-back signal.