They’re all around us, so it’s fun to show students the circle in the clock on the wall or the square in the window.

Transportation is another of my favorite themes for preschool.

Which makes this easy shape train craft a perfect way to teach both at the same time!

If you’re looking for a simple, hands-on way to talk about shapes or transportation, this is it!

It’s simple enough for young learners to complete on their own.

But it also provides a good way to talk about real world math with students, even in preschool.

Get the full instructions and the printable template below!

Need more ways to talk about shapes in early grades? Take a look at our hands-on Shape Sorting Mats!

Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids

This simple shape craft is a perfect low-prep activity for a shape or transportation unit with preschoolers or kindergarteners.

Once you’ve cut out the template pieces, students can assemble the craft with just a few directions.

To make this easy shape train craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Scissors (if you plan for students to cut out the pieces themselves, use child-safe scissors)
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Printable Train Craft Template

Get started by printing the craft template.

Then use a pencil to trace the shape pieces onto colored construction paper and cut them out.

I find it best to use different colors for each piece. That way, it’s easy to point out each geometric shape without confusing the students.

The finished project includes three rectangles, one triangle, two squares, and two circles.

How to Make a Shape Train Math Craft

Now it’s time to assemble our train!

Use a piece of construction paper as your background.

Start by gluing the large rectangle down towards the right edge of the paper.

Glue the triangle on the left side of the rectangle. The two pieces should touch.

Make sure students rotate the triangle so that the longest edge is facing up and out. This will be the front of the train.

Complete the body by adding the thinner rectangle vertically along the right side of the large rectangle.

Place it so that it covers the right edge of the large rectangle. This will form the back of the train.

The two circles go in the bottom center of the train, forming the wheels.

An easy way to direct students is to have them glue the circles on the bottom of the large rectangle only.

Add the final small rectangle by gluing it onto the top of the thin vertical rectangle.

Add the two squares (windows) by gluing them towards the top of the center rectangle.

If you like, you can have students draw perpendicular lines to form windowpanes.

And we’re all finished!

These would make an excellent class project for parents’ night!

Let the students try different colors of paper and add their own touches afterwards: a plume of smoke coming from the smokestack, a conductor in the window, tracks under the train – whatever they can think of!

See the full project directions below!

Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids

Print

This simple shape train craft is a perfect way to teach early learners about geometry and transportation. Plus, they'll get some fine motor skills practice too!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Construction paper
• Pencil
• Printer paper

Tools

• Printer
• Ruler
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. Print the shape train craft template.
2. Cut out the template pieces and then use a pencil to trace each shape onto colored construction paper.
3. Cut out the paper pieces.
4. Glue the large rectangle down onto a piece of white construction paper.
5. Glue the triangle onto the front of the rectangle, forming the front of the train.
6. Glue the thin rectangle vertically along the back edge of the large rectangle, forming the back of the train.
7. Glue the small thin rectangle horiztonally along the top edge of the thin rectangle.
8. Glue the two circles onto the bottom of the large rectangle, forming the wheels.
9. Glue the two squares onto the top section of the large rectangle, forming the windows.

Notes

• Encourage your students to add details, such as: tracks under the train, smoke coming from the smokestack, a railroad crossing sign, or a conductor in the window.
• Have students use different colors for each train and make a group of trains for a class display.
• Talk about each shape before adding it to the picture. Ask students: "What shape is this?" or "How many sides does this shape have?"
• For shapes that are similar, such as the rectangles, talk about how each one is different. Ask: "How is this rectangle different from that rectangle?" Encourage students to examine the differences in height, width, and orientation.
• If you need to save time, print the template pieces and cut out shapes ahead of time. Then students can simply assemble the craft as you provide instructions.

Take a look at these other shapes activities for early learners!

The post Easy Shape Train Craft for Kids appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

If you’ve already taught the basics of shapes to your students, these snowman shape tracing worksheets are a fun way to broaden their understanding!

In this activity set, students get to learn 12 different plane shapes, as well as learn to recognize and write the shape names for themselves.

And there’s an adorable snowman theme throughout!

Read on to see how to get your set.

Need more winter learning ideas? Take a look at our Hot Cocoa Counting to 10 Activity Cards too!

Snowman Shape Tracing Worksheets for Kids

To use these snowman shape tracing worksheets, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Pencils or Washable markers
• Laminator (optional)
• Dry erase markers (optional)

This set includes:

• 12 color shape trace and write worksheets
• 12 blackline shape trace and write worksheets
• Shape trace and write activity cards (color and blackline versions)
• And a teaching script!

The following shapes are included:

• Circle
• Square
• Rectangle
• Triangle
• Oval
• Rhombus
• Heart
• Star
• Pentagon
• Hexagon
• Trapezoid
• and Octagon!

There’s also a detailed suggestions list showing various ways to make use of this resource with your class.

How to Use the Snowman Shape Tracing Worksheets with Students

How you use these shape tracing worksheets depends on what works best for your students.

If you need to save on ink (or if you want to add an art dimension), use the blackline version.

Students can color in the snowmen at the top as they complete the lesson.

If you’re working with these printables at early math centers, you can print them half-sized and place them on a ring for regular review.

You might also choose to laminate the pages and let students complete them using dry erase markers or dry erase crayons.

Just wipe them clean to start again the next day!

This resource also includes shape tracing activity cards.

Students can use these to review their recognition of both the shapes and the shape words.

You can also laminate these and use them with dry erase crayons in busy bags or morning tubs!

Get a look at this resource in action below!

Scroll down to get your set of these Snowman Shape Tracing Worksheets!

Try some of these other wintry themed activities for early grades!

The post Snowman Shapes! Snowman Shape Tracing Worksheets appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

I could seriously create apple themed resources all year long.

But we’re heading into fall and that means I’ll be moving on to other themes soon, like leaves, acorns, and farms.

Those are fun themes too, though, so yay!

I still had another apple learning activity to share with all of you this year: these printable apple shape tracing worksheets!

This is a fun early geometry lesson for students who are learning to recognize and build plane shapes!

And it would also make a great addition to an early math center or a morning tub.

Read on to see how to get your set! And, don’t miss our Apple CVC Word Building Activity for early literacy skills too!

Apple Trace and Write! Apple Shape Tracing Worksheets

To use these printable apple shape tracing worksheets, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper
• Colored pencils or crayons
• Dry erase crayons or dry erase markers (optional)
• Laminator (optional)

This product includes shape tracing worksheets for 12 distinct shapes, such as:

• Square
• Rectangle
• Circle
• Hexagon
• Star
• Oval
• and more!

Each page shows an apple-themed shape with tracing shapes and a label for each shape name.

Show students how to recognize each shape by using their fingers to outline the apple shape. If there are vertices and sides, count them together.

Then they can practice spelling and writing the shape name after using a crayon or colored pencil to trace the shapes on the page.

Each page is also available in a line art version if you need to save on color ink.

If you want to turn these into a reusable activity, laminate each page. Then let students use them with dry erase crayons or dry erase markers.

Since morning tub resources tend to be smaller, you may want to print these at half-size if you want to place them in a tub.

You can even punch a hole in the corner of each printable and place them on a ring to keep the pages together.

Apple Shape Tracing Learning Cards

This product also includes a set of apple shape tracing learning cards!

These are awesome for adding to morning tubs and math centers.

And, since they pair with the shape tracing worksheets, they’re perfect for reinforcement after the lesson.

Here’s a suggestion: Laminate the cards and place them on a ring.

Then students can work with a dry or wet erase marker to trace the shapes and the shape words.

When they’re done, just wipe them clean and they’re good to go again!

Get a look at this resource in action in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of these Apple Shape Tracing Worksheets!

Try some of these other apple early learning ideas!

To get your set of printable Apple Shape Tracing worksheets, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

>>> Apple Shape Tracing Worksheets <<<

The post Apple Trace and Write! Apple Shape Tracing Worksheets appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

When I was a kid, one of my strongest summer memories is going down to the Dairy Queen to get an OREO Blizzard.

It was my very favorite childhood treat.

(In fact, it’s taking every bit of willpower in my body not to break off from writing this post and go get one.)

Ice cream is still a classic treat for kids, especially during the summer.

And that’s why I wanted to make a fun ice cream-themed learning activity for early grades – this ice cream kindergarten shape sorting activity!

This is such a fun (and low-prep) learning activity for little learners!

You only need a few minutes to prepare it and then the kids will be off and running!

Just be prepared for them to ask you for ice cream immediately afterward.

Read on to see how to get your copy of this shape sorting lesson!

Plus, check out our cupcake letter matching activity for more “sweet” learning fun!

Ice Cream Kindergarten Shape Sorting Activity

To use this kindergarten shape sorting activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer paper or cardstock
• Laminator (optional)
• Scissors
• Hook and loop adhesive coins (optional)
• Crayons or colored pencils (optional)

This resource includes 12 different plane shapes for students to learn, such as:

• Circle
• Square
• Triangle
• Rectangle
• Oval
• Octagon
• and six more!

The cones feature the shapes themselves.

And the scoops are labeled with the shape names. (I used the same color for the scoop and the shape on each cone for a little hint.)

A full blackline version is included as well.

And there are shape labels and shape word labels for matching. An answer key is also inside.

How to Use the Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

You may want to begin this lesson with an introduction to plane shapes.

Start by reviewing the four basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, and rectangle) with your class. Build from there, gradually introducing the remaining eight plane shapes.

Talk about each shape’s name as you go along. This will help prepare your students for the matching activity.

If you’re working with early learners who are still practicing basic shapes, stick with the shape templates that are already labeled.

But if your students are already reading, add a little challenge with the labeling printables.

They can practice finding the correct shape name for each “cone” or finding the correct shape for each shape name “scoop”.

Add hook and loop adhesive stickers if you plan to reuse this lesson at centers.

Scroll down to get your Ice Cream Kindergarten Shape Sorting Activity!

For more hands-on early math fun, check out these ideas!

The post Ice Cream Kindergarten Shape Sorting Activity appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.