Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children identify and use common shapes and concepts about position during play and other activities.

Skill Progression: Recognizes geometric shapes

Age: 48-54 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 48-54 Months.

During center time, have children create art pictures from shapes. Have a variety of shape blocks, including different types of triangles and sizes of shapes.

See if the child can create a pattern with diamonds. After each attempt talk about what you like about each art design and discuss the shapes that were used, how many corners, sides, and how they were creatively combined.

Observe whether the child understands the diamond shape. Listen for how the child describes her creations.

Use the exact terms for each type of triangle, so children begin to know the names isosceles, etc. Comment when children create a shape. “Oh look you made a diamond out of two isosceles triangles.”