Kids can learn all about shapes right on the playground! Next time you head outside to play, you can also explore math in this fun shape hunt. Just print out our free shape hunt printable and go searching for shapes at the playground with this fun geometry activity for children!
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It seems like everywhere we look there’s so many opportunities for learning. Recently, we found examples of symmetry in nature as we took a walk in the forest. (Lucy is still an expert symmetry spotter!)
And, a few days ago as the kids were playing at the playground, we noticed shapes all around in the play structures. What a perfect opportunity to learn some basic geometry and remind the kids that math is fun!
As we walked around the playground we found circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles from different angles in the play structures. After playing in and around all the shapes, we took photos of the shapes we saw to study more closely at home.
How many shapes can you find in this picture?
Once we got home, we printed out our shape pictures and stapled them into a book. My original thought was we’d outline all the shapes we found with a highlighter, but Lucy really wanted to have each shape listed below the picture to help Theo learn his shapes. (Cute!) So I typed up shape words and printed them out. We cut the words out together and Lucy placed the shape words below each picture.
This activity really is suitable for so many ages. Theo, my 2 year old, is very confident in identifying circles from this outdoor shape hunt! And Lucy, my 5 year old, had so much fun that she’s still identifying shapes everywhere we go!
I’m also adding this free printable, Shape Hunt. You can take it anywhere you go to search for shapes. Print out a couple to keep in your car or bring on your next neighborhood walk!
Check out our ebook ABCs and 123s! You’ll find 40+ ways to encourage children to explore letters and numbers through play!