EL Support Lesson
Shapes in the World
This lesson can be used as a pre-lesson for the
Super Shapes
lesson plan.
Objectives
Academic
Students will be able to create and name shapes.
Language
Students will be able to identify 2D shapes using sentence stems and visual supports.
Introduction
(2 minutes)
- Display the everyday items to the class and ask them to share what they see using the sentence starter: "I see____."
- Explain that while these might be everyday objects they are also shapes!
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(5 minutes)- Play the Preschool Shape Song for the class, asking them to pay careful attention to what they see and hear.
- Review the shapes shown in the song and go over the attributes of each shape.
Guided Practice
(5 minutes)- Display the circle vocabulary card. Then draw a circle on the chart paper and say, "This is a circle. What makes it special?"
- Ask students to turn and talk to a partner to share what makes the circle special using the sentence starter, "A circle is special because ____."
- Invite each pair to share out with the group and record student thinking on the chart paper. Then ask follow-up questions to get students thinking about everyday objects in the shape of a circle. Record their ideas.
- Using the circle vocabulary card, identify any additional attributes of the circle.
- Repeat this process with the remaining shapes.
Group work time
(15 minutes)- Explain that students will now get to practice turning shapes into new things using the Drawing with Shapes worksheet.
- Review any independent work procedures.
- Pass out student materials and worksheets.
Additional EL adaptations
Beginning
- Have students use their home language (L1) to describe shapes/shape names.
- Work with students in a smaller group to practice identifying shape by name using songs or stories.
- Have students practice identifying and drawing shapes using the Tracing Shapes worksheet.
Advanced
- Have students draw their own shapes. Ask students to share with a partner how they made their shapes. Then have students turn each shape into an everyday object.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- As students are at work, circulate around the room and assess if they are able to identify shapes in everday objects.
- Collect student work samples and assess if students were able to match objects with the correct shapes. Take note of any misconceptions or areas of confusion.
Review and closing
(5 minutes)- Gather the class back together and hold up several of the everyday items you collected. Ask students what shape they see.
- Have students turn and talk to share with a partner one thing they drew for a circle, square, rectangle, and triangle (as time allows).
- Provide students with a sentence frame to support their language development: "I drew a ____ because it is in the shape of a ____."
Related learning resources
Shapes in the World
Lesson plan
Shapes in the World
It can be used as a stand alone or support lesson plan for the Super Shapes lesson plan.
Preschool
Math
Lesson plan
Museum Spot the Shapes
Game
Museum Spot the Shapes
Kids must find shapes hidden in the museum in this interactive math game.
Preschool
Math
Game
Find the Shapes!
Worksheet
Find the Shapes!
This 4th of July picnic is full of shapes! Help your preschooler learn to identify circle, stars, triangles and squares that are hidden in this scene.
Preschool
Math
Worksheet
