Want a great activity to teach your child about shapes? What about symmetry? This is it!
What you will need:
An even number of craft sticks. For this game/library program, we used 16 craft sticks per child.
Markers in assorted colors
Brown paper lunch bag

Instructions:

1. Take two craft sticks and place them directly next to each other.
2. Assist your child in drawing a shape on the two sticks. Each craft stick with have half a shape on it. Try to spilt the shape evenly between both sticks.
3. Write the name of the shape on one half from the pair.
4. Continue step 2 until all 8 shapes (16 craft sticks) are made.
5. Place the sticks in the paper lunch bag.
6. Have the child pick out sticks one by one and match the sticks to create the shapes.

The shapes we used were: circle, diamond/kite, heart, oval, rectangle, square, star and triangle. Maybe you could try an octagon, pentagon or hexagon. Feel free to use shapes that your child encounters daily! This could open up conversation about shapes everywhere from the grocery store to a long car trip. A tree, maybe? A cloud? A DINOSAUR?!?!

Playing games like this will help your child recognize the distinct characteristics of each shape. Ask them questions. Talk to them.

Early literacy skills explored: TALKING, READING, WRITING, PLAY (and if you sing about shapes…you will get in all FIVE!!)

Miss Emily is an early literacy librarian at the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, Illinois.  This fun activity was used in our extremely popular Mini-Math Magicians program for kids, ages 3-5.