Chinese Class Program - Theme: Shapes

 

日期: 周六3月16日2013年

时间: 9.30 - 11.30am

地点: J's 家

主题: 文具和形状 - 书，纸，笔，尺，橡皮，圆形，正方形，三角形，长方形， 椭圆形

 

9:30 - 9:35: 欢迎，课前祷告。

9:35 - 9:50: 问候, 复习旧知识

9:50 – 10:05: 学习新字文具和形状 - 书，纸，笔，尺，橡皮，圆形，正方形，三角形，长方形， 椭圆形

10:05 - 10:20: 玩一个关于形状的游戏 - Montessori: Geometric Solids

10:20 - 10:30: 读一本关于形状的书《第一次发现:形状》。

10:30 - 10:45: 休息，面包水果时间。

10:45 – 11:00: 关于形状的剪纸活动 – Montessori: Metal Inserts 或用水彩印出形状的美术。

11:00 - 11:10: 请小朋友表演朗诵一首关于形状的儿歌。

11:10 - 11:20: 玩一个关于形状的游戏 –找出房间里不同形状的东西， 再把它们归类起来或 Domino 形状的游戏。

11:20 - 11:30: 绝速祷告，收拾东西，谢谢下次再见。

11:30: 去参加Lyngby 图书管剪纸活动

Montessori Activity: Geometric Solids

Age: From 2 to 3.5 years old

Activity Duration: 5 - 15 minutes

Objectives:
1. To sensitize the child to the geometric solid shapes he sees around him.
2 To prepare the child for geometry.

Materials:
1. 1 set of Montessori Geometric Solids (10 pieces) consisting of ellipsoid, ovoid, sphere, cube, cuboid (rectangular prism), cylinder, cone, triangular prism, triangular pyramid and square pyramid.

2. 1 basket to contain 3 solids

3. 1 set of flash cards showing the names of the shapes (you can make this yourself)

4. 1 blindfold

5. 1 cloth (optional)

6. 1 tray of salt, rice or sand (optional)

Directions:
1. Name the Geometric Solids and show the child where it is kept.
2. Ask your child to bring over the box and have him sit to your left.
3. Place 3 basic shapes on the basket: Sphere, cube and cylinder.
4. Feel each of them and do the 3 period lesson by saying: "This is a sphere," and flash the card.
5. Hand it to the child to do the same.
6. Then ask: "Can you show me which one is the sphere?" and do the same with the rest of the solids.
7. Then ask: "Can you tell me what this is?" and do the same with the rest.
8. Cover the child's eyes with blind folder and give him a solid to him feel.
9. Ask the child which solid is in his hand.
10. Continue doing the same to all of the solids.
11. If the child forgets the names of the solids, repeat the 3 Period Lessons.

Tips:
1. Let the child choose 3 solids and cover them with a cloth. Feel the solid under the cloth and say out loud its name. Verify it by taking out the solid. It's the child's turn.

2. Take out three cards and ask the child to match the card with the solid.

3. Gently roll one solid in a tray of rice, salt or sand to see what forms it can make.

Video Demonstration:

Here is a video demonstration from North star Montessori Preschool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zkYjj98z7c

Additional Information:
Some recommend to introduce this at 2 years old, some say from 3.5 years old. Based on my experience with Joshua, in my opinion, it is too late to start at 3.5 years old as it is too simple. I think it is best to start the simple solids already at 2 or 2.5 years old.

Joshua (3Y6M26D) tried this on 1.10.2012, which was very late. But better late than never! It went ok - Joshua was happy to go along and try this with mommy (which I am really thankful for his over-bearing towards me), but it is not a material he would request to repeat it by himself. Joshua is not a kinetic boy, thus tactile and sensory activities have not really been his favourite since he was a toddler. I am not sure if I would have fantastic results even if I have started this with Joshua at 2 years old.

But still, I think in his sub-conscious mind, he has learned a lot, and thus, I would not skip to Montessori sensorial activities just because Joshua is not a kinetic boy. Ok, here, I direct, not the child - a deviation from Montessori's philosophy. But the eastern philosphy is - Mommy knows best :-)

References:
http://www.infomontessori.com/sensorial/stereognostic-sense-geometric-solids.htm
http://faculty.fullerton.edu/syen/mts/sensor/20.htm
Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-Fives

http://amzn.to/1pNRvsp

Learning About Shapes with Shape Dominoes

 

Shape Domino from Hubbard's Cupboard

 

 

Age: From 3.5 years old (After the child has been introduced to shapes)

 

 

Activity Duration: 15 minutes

 

Objectives:

1. To provide a fun way to reinforce the learning of shapes

 

 

Materials:

1. Free Shape Domino printables from Hubbard's Cupboard

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Put down one domino card in the centre of the table or floor mat.

 

2. Divide the remaining cards equally among the players. (Any number of players you wish. In this case, we divided the cards amongst the two of us.)

 

3. Take turn to lay down a domino card next to the starting domino on either side of the first domino card, as long as the shapes on adjacent domino card match each other.

 

4. If you run out of cards that could match the shape at either end of the domino cards, you forego your turn.

 

5. The first player who finishes al his cards win.

 

Tips:

 

While playing this game, repeat the name of the shapes and encourage your child to do the same.

 

Additional Information:

What I like about the shape dominoes offered by Hubbard's Cupboard is its simplicity. The lack of colour is a plus for older toddlers or preschoolers, as it helps the child to focus on matching the shapes, not colour. It provides a fun way to match the shapes.

 

I tried this for the first time with Joshua (3Y7M14D) today and we had a good time. He told me that he has played this game before in his kindergarten as well, but it was car dominoes.

 

References:

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/Bible_and_Rhyme_Week_10_Shape_Dominoes.PDF

http://www.alexcramer.com/howtoplay.php

 

 

Montessori Activity: Printing Shapes with Poster Colours

Age: From 2 years old

Objectives:
1. To teach shapes in a fun way

Materials:
1. A few different plastic shapes (square, round, triangle, star, heart shape) from shape sorter.
2. Poster colours
3. Paper plate as pallet
4. 1 A3/A4 size plain paper

Directions:
1. Demonstrate by dipping one of the plastic shape into the paint and stamp it on the paper.
2. Say the name of the shape.
3. Encourage your child to try.

Additional Information:
J (2Y6M22D) tried this activity this evening, and enjoyed it quite a lot.

Teaching Shapes in a Fun Way

A fun way to teach children the difference types of shapes is to sing it. Here is a great video from KidsTV123:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRuLS-Vnjs

Another fun way is to make it into a game. Here is a good suggestion from I Can Teach My Child:

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/07/tape-shapes.html