A Week’s Worth of Shape Recognition Activities

Looking for ways to expose your toddlers and preschoolers to shapes?

In this collection of shape recognition activities, we’ve put together a variety of activities that can provide a week’s worth of learning in the home or classroom.

Each simple idea engages young learners while they identify and compare shapes.

Some ideas build other skills as well, such as fine motor and color recognition.

Make sure to check out these “A Week’s Worth” collections, too:

A Week’s Worth of Shape Recognition Activities

We’ve categorized these shape recognition activities to make it easier for you to plan your week!

How many of these activities you can do in a week will depend on your daily schedule. There are certainly enough activities in this collection to focus on shapes for longer than a week!

Art

Use shape toys for a fun art activity – super easy to set up!

Supplies: Shape sorting toys, paint, paper

Stamp paper tubes into paint for a simple process art circle activity.

Supplies: Paper tubes, paint, paper

Be creative and make a shape house out of construction paper. (My Mommy Style)

Supplies: Multiple colors of construction paper, scissors, white pom poms or cotton balls, glue stick

Take your favorite nesting blocks and turn them into a paint stamping activity.

Supplies: Nesting blocks, paint, paper

Explore shapes while using them to create a collage. (NutureStore)

Supplies: Tissue paper (circles and squares), old art or paper scraps, scissors, cardstock, glue, bowls, brushes

Fine Motor

Strengthen fine motor skills while clipping clothespins on the correct shape – free printable cards!

Supplies: Free Match and Clip Cards, clothespins

Learn about the differences of each shape while wrapping them in yarn. (Laughing Kids Learn)

Supplies: Cardboard, yarn, scissors

Make your own handled sponge stamps to use on paper. (It Happens in a Blink)

Supplies: Paper towel tubes, sponges cut into shapes

Place objects on the outline of different shapes for some finger strengthening. (Learning 4 Kids)

Supplies: Washi or masking tape, colored card stock paper, scissors, small pieces

Press foam shapes to the sticky side of tape. (Happy Toddler Playtime)

Supplies: Foam shapes, tape

Gross Motor

Play a fun shape hopscotch game indoors when the weather isn’t cooperating. (Housing a Forest)

Supplies: Colored paper cut into different shapes, tape

Get the kids moving while going on a shape hunt. (Frugal Fun 4 Boys)

Supplies: Paper, marker, assorted toys and objects to find

Put together a roll hop shape game that’s easy enough for toddlers, too. (I Can Teach My Child)

Supplies: Painter’s tape, large cube, marker or free shapes printable

Toss bean bags into shapes that are taped to the floor. (Learn, Play, Imagine)

Supplies: Painter’s tape, bean bags

After drawing shapes on the sidewalk, name a shape for the children to run and find. (Gift of Curiosity)

Supplies: Sidewalk chalk

Literacy

This shapes alphabet activity is an excellent way for young children to learn shapes … and colors! (Fun Learning for Kids)

Supplies: Card stock paper, dice, markers, permanent marker

After reading Mouse Shapes, invite your children to spell their names using different shapes. (Growing Book By Book)

Supplies: Various colors of construction paper, scissors, large sheets of white paper, markers or crayons

Math

These free shape picture card puzzles work on simple symmetry and balance, as well as colors.

Supplies: Free shape picture card puzzles

Put together a shape sorting activity that uses tape on your floor. (Busy Toddler)

Supplies: Masking tape, assorted objects in different basic shapes

Sensory

Put together a hands-on shapes sensory bin, inspired by the book The Shape of Things.

Supplies: Shredded paper, assorted colored foam cut into pieces, tweezers, containers

Place shapes in bubbly water for some soothing sensory play. (Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Supplies: Assorted colored foam cut into shapes, soapy water, shovel or large sifting toy

Work on fine motor skills while removing shapes from a sensory bin and then sorting them. (Stir the Wonder)

Supplies: Bin, black beans, shape buttons, fine motor tools, large tweezers, small muffin tin

Playdough

Grab some shape buttons and press them into playdough for a nice, calming activity.

Supplies: Playdough, large shape buttons, matchsticks (optional), matching colored plates or bowls

Build 2D and 3D shapes with craft sticks and playdough. (In the Playroom)

Supplies: Playdough and craft sticks

Press pattern blocks into playdough for some shape impressions. (Play, Teach, Repeat)

Supplies: Pattern blocks and playdough

Add shape cookie cutters to your playdough table. (Nurture Store)

Supplies: Assorted shape cookie cutters and playdough

Circle Time

Put together a fun shapes story time that includes lots of repetition. (Library Village)
This collection of rhymes, actions songs, and finger plays add shape recognition to any circle time.
Get the children up and moving during circle time with a circle hunt.

Supplies: Felt cut into different sized circles, felt board