Lesson Plan
Shape Safari
Students will explore and identify four basic shapes—circle, square, triangle, and rectangle—through a fun “Shape Safari.” By the end, each child will accurately name and match each shape to its outline.
Recognizing shapes lays the foundation for geometry and spatial reasoning. This lesson engages Pre-K learners through movement, songs, and hands-on exploration, boosting vocabulary and fostering early math confidence.
Audience
Pre-K
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on hunts, songs, and sorting to reinforce shape recognition.
Materials
Cardstock Shape Cutouts, Shape Cards Printable, Shape Safari Song, Shape Hunt Worksheet, and Large Shape Posters
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print copies of Shape Cards Printable for each student.
- Print and cut out shape images from Shape Hunt Worksheet.
- Gather Cardstock Shape Cutouts and arrange four labeled bins (circle, square, triangle, rectangle).
- Display Large Shape Posters around the classroom at child height.
- Queue up Shape Safari Song on audio device.
Step 1
Welcome and Shape Safari Song
5 minutes
- Gather students on the carpet in a circle.
- Introduce today’s adventure: a Shape Safari! We’ll find shapes around the room.
- Play Shape Safari Song and encourage children to sing and dance along.
- Highlight shapes mentioned in the song (circle, square, triangle, rectangle).
Step 2
Introduce Shapes
5 minutes
- Display each Large Shape Poster one at a time.
- Name the shape and discuss properties: number of sides and corners.
- Invite volunteers to trace the shape in the air with their finger.
- Reinforce shape names by having the class repeat together.
Step 3
Shape Safari Hunt
10 minutes
- Hand each student a set of Shape Cards Printable.
- Explain they will walk around the room to find matching shape posters.
- Model matching a circle card to the circle poster.
- Allow students to explore and match independently, offering help as needed.
Step 4
Shape Sorting Activity
5 minutes
- Bring students to tables with four bins labeled by shape.
- Distribute Cardstock Shape Cutouts to each group.
- Instruct students to sort cutouts into the correct bins.
- Circulate to praise correct sorting and guide gently on mistakes.
Step 5
Closing and Shape Hunt Worksheet
5 minutes
- Gather students back on the carpet.
- Distribute Shape Hunt Worksheet.
- Instruct children to circle all examples of one shape (e.g., circles).
- Review answers together and ask volunteers to name each shape one more time.
Slide Deck
Shape Safari
A fun adventure to explore basic shapes!
Welcome, Pre-K explorers! Today we’re going on a Shape Safari. We’ll discover four shapes—circle, square, triangle, and rectangle—and have fun singing and hunting for them around the classroom.
Objectives
- Explore and identify circle, square, triangle, and rectangle
- Match shapes to their outlines
Review the objectives with the class so they know what to expect.
Play the Shape Safari Song. Encourage children to sing along and dance. Point out each shape as it’s mentioned in the song.
Circle
Properties:
- 1 curved side
- 0 corners
Introduce the circle. Show its round shape and talk about how it has one continuous side and no corners. Let volunteers trace it in the air.
Square
Properties:
- 4 equal sides
- 4 corners
Introduce the square. Highlight its four equal sides and four corners. Invite a student to trace the square in the air.
Triangle
Properties:
- 3 sides
- 3 corners
Introduce the triangle. Show its three sides and three corners. Let a volunteer trace a triangle in the air.
Rectangle
Properties:
- 4 sides (2 long, 2 short)
- 4 corners
Introduce the rectangle. Explain it has four sides—two long and two short—and four corners. Invite a student to trace it in the air.
Shape Safari Hunt
- Receive your shape cards
- Find matching posters around the room
- Match each card to the correct poster
Explain the Shape Safari Hunt. Hand out the shape cards and demonstrate matching a card to a poster. Then let students explore independently, offering support as needed.
Shape Sorting Activity
- Get your cardstock shapes
- Sort into bins labeled Circle, Square, Triangle, Rectangle
Guide students to the sorting tables. Distribute cutout shapes and explain how to sort them into the correct bins. Circulate to praise correct sorting and gently correct mistakes.
Closing Activity
Complete the Shape Hunt Worksheet by circling all of one shape.
Review answers as a class.
Distribute the Shape Hunt Worksheet. Ask students to circle all examples of one shape. Review answers together and reinforce shape names one more time.
Worksheet
Shape Cards Printable
Color each shape below. Then cut along the outer edges to create your own shape cards for the Shape Safari Hunt activity!
Circle Card
○
Square Card
□
Triangle Card
△
Rectangle Card
▭
Worksheet
Shape Hunt Worksheet
Let’s go on a shape safari! In each row, circle all of the shapes named.
1. Circle all the circles
○ □ △ ▭ ○ △ □ ○ ▭ ○
2. Circle all the squares
□ ○ ▭ □ △ □ ○ ▭ □ △
3. Circle all the triangles
△ □ ○ △ ▭ △ □ ○ ▭ △
4. Circle all the rectangles
▭ ○ △ □ ▭ ▭ △ ○ □ ▭
Script
Shape Safari Script
1. Welcome and Shape Safari Song (5 minutes)
Teacher (clapping hands): “Good morning, shape detectives! Come sit here in our circle. I have a very special adventure for us today—it’s called a Shape Safari! On our safari, we’re going to find four shapes: circle, square, triangle, and rectangle. Can you say ‘Shape Safari’?
Great! Let’s get ready by listening with our ‘shape detectives’ ears and watching with our ‘shape detectives’ eyes. When you hear a shape name in our song, I want you to show me that shape with your hands. Ready?”
(Play Shape Safari Song)
Teacher (during song or immediately after):
- “Wow—who heard ‘circle’? Show me big circles with your arms!”
- “Who heard ‘square’? Wiggle your fingers in a square shape!”
- “I spotted ‘triangle’—make three corners with your hand!”
- “And there’s ‘rectangle’—show me two long sides and two short sides!”
“Fantastic singing and dancing, everyone! You are wonderful shape detectives.”
2. Introduce Shapes (5 minutes)
Circle
Teacher holds up Large Circle Poster:
“Friends, this is a circle! A circle is round—no points, just one curvy side. It looks like a wheel or a pizza. Watch me trace the shape in the air.”
(Teacher traces a big circle.)
“Now you trace it with me. One—two—three!”
(Students trace.)
“Who can tell me how many corners a circle has? (Pause.) That’s right—zero corners!”
Square
Teacher holds up Large Square Poster:
“Look at this square. It has four equal sides and four corners. It looks like a window! Trace it in the air with me.”
(Trace.)
“Let’s count the sides: one, two, three, four! And the corners: one, two, three, four! Good job!”
Triangle
Teacher holds up Large Triangle Poster:
“This is a triangle. It has three sides and three corners. It looks like a slice of your pizza! Trace it.”
(Trace.)
“How many sides? One, two, three! How many corners? One, two, three!”
Rectangle
Teacher holds up Large Rectangle Poster:
“Here is a rectangle. It has four sides and four corners, too—but two sides are long and two are short, like a door or a book. Trace it with me.”
(Trace.)
“Let’s count: sides one, two, three, four. Corners one, two, three, four! Excellent!”
“Now we know our four shapes. Let’s go on our Shape Safari!”
3. Shape Safari Hunt (10 minutes)
Teacher:
“I’m giving each of you a set of Shape Cards Printable. These cards match the posters we just learned. Your job is to walk around the room, find the poster that matches each card, and place your card under the right poster. Watch me first.”
(Model matching a circle card to the circle poster.)
“See how I put the circle card right here under the circle poster? Now it’s your turn. Let’s step quietly and look carefully. If you need help, raise your hand and I’ll come over.”
(Teacher circulates and prompts individual students:)
- “Great find—yes, that shape is a triangle. How many corners does it have?”
- “You matched a square to the square poster—nice work!”
“When all your cards are matched, come back here and wait for everyone to finish.”
4. Shape Sorting Activity (5 minutes)
Teacher:
“Excellent matching, shape detectives! Now let’s go to our sorting tables. See four bins labeled ‘Circle,’ ‘Square,’ ‘Triangle,’ and ‘Rectangle.’ I’m giving each group a pile of cardstock cutout shapes. Your job is to sort them into the correct bins.”
(Teacher demonstrates with one cutout.)
“If I have this shape, I look for four equal sides—it’s a square—so it goes in the square bin. Now you try!”
(Teacher circulates, praising and guiding:)
- “I see you counted the sides—smart thinking!”
- “Oops—is that two short sides and two long sides? Let’s try the rectangle bin.”
“When your group is done, leave the cutouts in the bins and head back to the carpet.”
5. Closing and Shape Hunt Worksheet (5 minutes)
Teacher:
“Shape Safari complete! Gather back on the carpet. Who can name all four shapes we explored today?”
(Take responses: circle, square, triangle, rectangle.)
“Fantastic! Now I have a Shape Hunt Worksheet for each of you. On this worksheet, there are rows of mixed shapes. Your job is to circle only the shapes I name. Let’s do it together.”
- “Circle all the circles.”
(Give students time; then ask a volunteer to share one circled circle.) - “Now circle all the squares.”
(Pause; volunteers share.) - “Next, circle all the triangles.”
(Pause.) - “Finally, circle all the rectangles.”
(Pause; review.)
“You did amazing work on our Shape Safari! Give yourself a big clap. Tomorrow we’ll keep exploring new shapes, but for now, you’ve earned a rest. Shape detectives dismissed!”
(Collect worksheets or have students turn them into the helper.)
— End of Script —