GEOMETRIC SHAPES PICTURE – Shape, Colour, Pattern

Students will be able to:

• create a picture using pre-cut, geometric, paper shapes;
• create personal responses to the centre materials;
• work independently and self-regulate;
• share their ideas with peers; 
• demonstrate a sense of accomplishment.

Have students:

• use tracers to draw geometric and organic shapes;
• cut out the shapes;
• glue the shapes on a variety of small boxes;
• glue the boxes together to create a sculpture.

1. Create an art centre in your classroom with the following things:
   - scissors
   - a variety of pre-cut geometric shapes
   - glue sticks
   - construction paper
2. Gather, and make available, books about shapes and sorting, for example, The Shape of Things, by Dayle Ann Dodds, and Julie Lacome; The Shape Song Swingalong, by Barefoot Books; Triangle, by Mac Barnett, and Jon Klassen; Square, by Mac Barnett, and Jon Klassen; Circle, by Mac Barnett, and Jon Klassen; Math Counts: Shape, by Henry Arthur Pluckrose; Sam Sorts, by Marthe Jocelyn; National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Shapes! Board book, by National Geographic Kids; and When a Line Bends . . . A Shape Begins, by Rhonda Gowler Greene, and James Kaczman.
3. Download and display the Shape poster available on this website.
4. Cut out some large geometric paper shapes.

1. Conduct a read-aloud with a book such as The Shape of Things, by Dayle Ann Dodds, and Julie Lacome.
   - draw attention to how combinations of shapes form things such as houses and boats 
2. Practice sorting a variety of large, cut-out shapes.
3. Invite some students to combine several shapes to create something new.
4. Display and draw attention to shapes and shape words in the classroom.
5. Introduce the art centre.
6. Introduce the challenge.

1. Gather students to share and discuss their pictures. Ask students:
   - What shape did you use the most of?   
   - How many different shapes did you use?
   - Did you use shapes to make a pattern? How?
   - What do you like the best about this picture? Why?
   - Who would love this picture? Why?
2. Display all the pictures in the classroom.
3. Encourage students to view the pictures and notice how they are the same, and how they are different.

1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
2. Observe students as they discuss the artworks – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Download - ShapePicture_tracking.pdf)
4. Have grade 1 students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Download - ShapePicture_self-assessment.pdf)