SHAPES

If you ask a child and an adult to describe a sign, they will do so very differently. An adult would start by telling you what the sign said, while children would describe the colors, pictures, and shapes on it. This shows how even very young children are able to recognize shapes – long before they know letters and numbers. At the same time, knowledge of shapes is an important foundation for children's later skills in both art and mathematics.

In this material, we have created four activities specifically with the purpose of improving young children's shape recognition. The activities are easy to start with a small group of children and can be adapted to the children's age and abilities. The most important thing is that the activities are fun and nurture children's natural curiosity about shapes.

EARLY SHAPE SKILLS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO MATHEMATICS

Normally, when you think about young children's math skills, you think about the ability to count and add numbers. However, shapes are an equally important aspect of mathematics. The ability to learn geometry is directly related to a child's early shape skills, but improving shape recognition in young children also enhances their artistic skills.

This material focuses on the areas of mathematics that revolve around shapes and patterns. In our Build & Learn Numbers and Measurement material, we have created activities that focus on the other areas of mathematics. The mathematical skills children need to learn in relation to shapes are:

1. Spatial awareness
   This is the most basic level of shape recognition that children need to later learn geometry. It is the introduction of different shapes, directions, sizes, and positions. Within this area, children will learn to recognize basic shapes, their names, and how to distinguish them from other shapes. This also includes the ability to describe whether an object is next to, above, or behind something else.
2. Representation
   This is where children learn to connect shapes and reality. It is an important aspect of shape recognition that children can recognize shapes in their surroundings. This will prepare them for later skills in art, as they will discover that most things can be created with basic shapes.
3. Problem-solving
   Children will encounter problems for the rest of their lives, and practicing solving mathematical tasks will directly improve their ability to solve any problem. While working on their shape recognition, children will use and expand their logical thinking, which is one of the most important skills they can learn.
4. Patterns
   A pattern is something that repeats in a logical way and can be practiced with shapes. However, children already understand certain patterns from their daily lives: Before going to bed, we brush our teeth; when we come inside, we take off our shoes; before eating, we wash our hands. These are all patterns. In shape and pattern activities, we improve children's ability to understand, recognize, and use patterns.

It is the combination of these skills, as well as numbers and measurement, that provides children with a solid mathematical foundation. Therefore, these are the areas that the included activities focus on. This product is intended as an easy tool that you, as part of the pedagogical staff, can use in your daily work with children's early mathematical skills.

ZPIIEL AND SHAPES

Play and learn
Children learn better when they play. They are naturally both curious and interested in shapes, and by meeting them in their interest and responding to it as an adult, they will go a long way. The Zpiiel elements can be used both in child-initiated play and in planned educational activities.

Play with all senses
When playing with Zpiiel Build & Learn, many senses come into play: Children can touch, look at, and change the shapes. Furthermore, they will use their tactile sense and be able to physically touch and feel the shapes. Building shapes and changing them by rotating them allows children to learn about the different types of shapes on a deeper level.

Your imagination is the only limit
With this product, you build all shapes yourself using the building set, and you can easily involve the children in this. The elements have ball joints, which makes it easy to change the shapes. Find inspiration for activities that improve early mathematical skills on the following pages. However, the elements can also be used for free play, where children build houses, animals, monsters, or anything else they desire.