Sonrisas Spanish Curriculum - Shape Theme

Just a Note
This is an older lesson that I typed some time ago.  I figured since I spent the time typing the post, finding activities or creating additional activities, and linking to the websites ... it only makes sense to post it ... even if it is a late update.  I still have several update posts using Sonrisas Spanish Curriculum to come.  I have a lot on my plate this month and hope to accomplish everything on my to do list.  

Spanish Shape Lesson

We used our Spanish shape die inserts from Education Cubes to make learning the shapes more fun and active.  We also used a shape poster "Las figuras geometricas" by Creative Teaching Press. I can't seem to find it on Amazon.  It was purchased at our local educator's store.  I used the poster to introduce the shapes in Spanish and we played the "Shape Hunt" game as described in the manual.  She identified the top of her stool as a circle.  We also added our Education Cubes and the Treehouse Languages Shape Finders as mentioned below.  Alyssa rolled the cube, identified the shape in Spanish, and told me the number of sides in Spanish.  She also showed me the number with her fingers.  Finally, she searched the room for the different shapes she rolled.  I asked Alyssa to tell me the color of the shapes to reinforce previously learned vocabulary.  We pulled out her old shape sorter and said the name of the shape in Spanish before fitting it in the correct opening. Additionally, the names of the shapes in Spanish were reviewed with an old shape puzzle.  First, she told me the names in Spanish and the number of sides.  Then, she used a pointer to identify the shape that I described in Spanish.  

 
Story Time

The story we used for the theme was Las formas en el arte by Rebecca Rissman.  This was not the best book to use for Alyssa's age group in my opinion.  Her interest in the book and activity was very limited this time around.  But, that's okay because she enjoys the rest of the curriculum so much that one book won't stop her from learning and enjoying Spanish.  We did not read through the entire book.  I skimmed and read over important parts to simplify the information.  I tried to read the entire book aloud ... Alyssa got bored with it and was not very attentive.  I tried reading it on several different occasions but I received the same reaction for this particular book.  It is a very, long informative book.  I feel this book may be best for older elementary students rather than pre-k or kindergarden children.  Luckily, the curriculum manual contains a list of book suggestions for each theme.  We were able to get a different book on shapes for other activities.

Art
One of the art lessons was a basic connect-the-dot sheet.  Alyssa connected the dots in order to draw or form the shapes.  We discussed what the shape was and the number of sides for each shape. She counted the number of sides, wrote the number next to the shape, and the shape name was correctly identified and labeled. Patterns were drawn and colored inside the shapes.  Shapes were also found in the room and traced on construction paper.  The drawings were also labeled with the shape name and the number of sides.  When discussing shapes in Spanish I would ask Alyssa - Que forma es? Cuantos lados tiene la forma_____?

Supplemental Shape Activities (NOT part of Sonrisas)
1.) Shape Do-A-Dot - Say the shape's name in Spanish and repeat the name every time the child uses the dauber to fill in a shape.  You could also have her repeat the shape name.  Ask questions about the number of sides and what the shape is while working.

2.) Attribute Shape Sorting - Alyssa sorted the attribute shapes based on whether the shape was round or not round. I reviewed the names of colors in Spanish and the number of sides for each shape. She would also tell me the name in Spanish. 

3.) Shape Match File Folder Game (scroll down) - Match the shape while saying Spanish shape names.
4.) Find the Shape - Spanish Shape View Finders - Treehouse Languages offered these free shape viewers and we used them during the shape hunt activity mentioned above.
5.) Ideas for Preschoolers - Many of the ideas listed here can be easily adapted and used during a Spanish shape lesson with a little creativity.
6.) Shape Pocket Matching - You will find other great shape activities on the right side such as shape button sorting and the felt board shape story.
7.) Shape Bingo - Any shape bingo board will do for this activity. The teacher can describe a shape in Spanish and the child can find it or the teacher can state the name of a shape (always in Spanish) and the child identifies it by covering the shape.  You could also create shape cards of different colors and sizes. The child can flip over a card and then find and cover the shape as an independent activity.  This activity can also be done with a shape cube as seen above - the child would roll and cover the shape.  Add a color cube if your bingo boards use different colors and shapes. Another activity would be to have the child spin a shape spinner, say the name in Spanish, and cover the shape.  
8.) A Shape Book - Give the child white paper to create a Spanish shape book.  Trace or draw the shapes.  Draw one shape per page. Label the shapes and make a cover page titled Mi Libro de Figuras Geometricas or Mi Libro de Formas. Staple all of the pages together and place tape on the back side of the staples to protect child's hands.  Have your child cut out magazine pictures of shapes and glue them to the corresponding pages in the book.
9.) Shape Concentration or Memory Game - Use two sets of shape flashcards to create a memory or concentration game.  The child must flip over two matching shapes and say the shape's name correctly in Spanish before keeping the pair of cards.  If you wanted you can make it a bilingual game matching where the child matches the Spanish shape name to English shape names.

How do you teach shapes? 

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Tracey