Shape Builder
Recommended Age:
5+
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Mathematical Topic:
Shapes & Geometry
What You Need
Straws cut to various lengths; playdough rolled into many small balls.
What To Do
Have your child build different shapes by using the playdough to attach the straws at the corners. For example: To make a square, use four straws for each side of the shape and 4 balls of playdough to connect the straws at the corners. Use this activity as an opportunity to discuss basic shape features as you build together.
Moving On
When your child understands how to build the shapes well and understands the shapes they’re making, use the shapes they build to talk about more advanced shape features like right (90 degrees), acute (less than 90 degrees), obtuse (greater than 90 degrees) angles, and other aspects of the shapes they construct.