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.
GEOMETRIC SHAPES PICTURE – Shape, Colour, Pattern
Steps
Step One
- Sort the paper cut-outs by their shape.
Step Two
- Glue the shapes to another piece of paper.
- Make patterns.
- Use contrasting colours.
Step Three
- Look at your picture from a distance.
- 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?
Learning Goals
Extensions
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.
Prepare
- Create an art centre in your classroom with the following things:
- scissors
- a variety of pre-cut geometric shapes
- glue sticks
- construction paper - 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.
- Download and display the Shape poster available on this website.
- Cut out some large geometric paper shapes.
Introduction
- 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 - Practice sorting a variety of large, cut-out shapes.
- Invite some students to combine several shapes to create something new.
- Display and draw attention to shapes and shape words in the classroom.
- Introduce the art centre.
- Introduce the challenge.
Activities
The Challenge
- Create a picture using geometric paper shapes.
- Use your own ideas to make your picture.
- Use different shapes.
- Repeat shapes to make a pattern.
- Explain how you made your picture.
The Process
- Ensure that students understand the challenge.
- Establish success criteria with your students, for example,
I know I am successful when I:
- use my own ideas to make my picture
- use different geometric shapes
- repeat shapes to make a pattern
- explain how I made my picture
- share my ideas with my classmates - Guide students through the steps outlined in the lesson plan.
- Observe students as they work.
- Provide individual assistance and encouragement.
Sharing
- 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? - Display all the pictures in the classroom.
- Encourage students to view the pictures and notice how they are the same, and how they are different.
Assessment
- Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
- Observe students as they discuss the artworks – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
- Use a checklist to track progress. (Download - ShapePicture_tracking.pdf)
- Have grade 1 students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Download - ShapePicture_self-assessment.pdf)
