Teach the Square…And the Rectangle

f e a t u r e Teach the square…and the rectangle eaching these two geometric needs of ancient civilizations. familiar and trusted shapes, they Tshapes is like a line from an (Some believe the square symbol- represent order and stability. old song: “You can’t have one izes civilization.) Ancient peoples Because a square has four equal without the other.” needed to measure plots of land, sides, it can also be said to sym- The square and rectangle go build structures, collect taxes, bolize the seasons (spring, sum- hand in hand—maybe not like describe constellations, and create mer, fall, winter), cardinal direc- “love and marriage” or “horse calendars, all of which required tions (north, east, south, west), and carriage,” but perhaps best numbers, shapes, and calculations. and the elements (fire, water, air, understood in terms of the other. Of the basic geometric shapes in earth). Children have undoubtedly had today’s world, the rectangle is the In nature, we see no naturally experience with the two shapes in most common. The rectangle and formed squares or rectangles. objects all around them. They its square soul-mate form the Trees, branches, and leaves, for begin learning geometric shapes structure of most buildings. As example, are uneven, rounded, in a more formal way in preschool z T and are usually expected to know gae how to make and take apart N shapes by the time they finish kindergarten. by susa oto Texas Child Care has posted two ph previous articles on teaching geometric shapes: Go round: Teach the circle shape in Spring 2015 and Teach the triangle in Spring 2017. Find them on the website at www.childcarequarterly.com/ backissu.php. What’s the difference? By definition a square is a flat fig- ure with four equal sides and four right-angle corners. A rectangle is the same except that two of its parallel sides are longer than the opposite sides. Squares and rectangles are part of the math and geometry that developed in response to the © Texas Child Care quarTerly / fall 2017 / VOLUMe 41, NO. 2 / ChildCarequarTerly.com and irregular. The same is true of the walls straight or curved? How cut out of construction paper or rocks, mountains, rivers, oceans, many walls are there? Is the room cardboard. Label the shapes in and icebergs. Nonetheless, nature a square or a rectangle? block lettering. Point out the has its own structure, as shown in Read a book such as Squares by length of the sides. Provide Patterns in Nature and other books Yusuke Yonezu. Each page has lengths of yarn and demonstrate by science journalist Philip Ball square or rectangular holes, how to measure a shape’s sides. (See www.thestar.com/entertain- which—as you turn the page--allow Use vocabulary such as long, wide, ment/books/2016/05/28/pat- you to see shapes, such as square same, equal, and angle. terns-in-nature-explores-worlds- windows or a rectangular door. Invite children to pat lumps of chaotic-beauty.html). Challenge children to identify clay or playdough into squares each of the two shapes in the and rectangles. Have them test Learning activities classroom and place a sticky tab the lengths of their shape’s sides Teaching the square and rectangle on each, where possible. They using string to measure. can fit easily into daily routines might identify a square tabletop Encourage children to compare and learning center themes. To or bulletin board, for example, as the size of each shape. For exam- help preschoolers distinguish well as a rectangular cubbie and a ple: Which square is larger (or between the square and rectangle, book. Encourage children to com- smaller) than another square? offer hands-on activities and ask pare the size of the shapes. For Invite children to make a square questions to encourage close example: Which is larger—the on a sheet of paper using tooth- observation and comparison. book or the door? picks, straws, or ice-cream sticks. As children become more adept, Circle time Math and challenge them to turn the square As children gather, ask them to manipulatives center into another shape: How can you observe the sides of the room. Are Provide squares and rectangles turn the square into a rectangle z (or vice versa)? Similarly, invite T children to tear paper into a gae N square shape, and then turn it into a triangle by folding or cut- by susa ting the square diagonally. oto ph Outdoor walk Take a walk with children in the playground or neighborhood. Ask them to find examples of squares and rectangles. You may see square and rectangular signs, windows, and buildings, for example. Snap photos and print them when you return to the classroom. Place the photos in a binder, label each one, and place the binder in the library center for children to view on their own. Snack Have children wash their hands before helping prepare and serve snack. Ask about the shape of the paper napkins. Provide plastic © Texas Child Care quarTerly / fall 2017 / VOLUMe 41, NO. 2 / ChildCarequarTerly.com knives so children can cut cheese Music art center into squares to eat with square Have each child hold a different Provide square and rectangular crackers. Invite children to cut shape (square, rectangle, triangle, sponges that children can dip into toasted whole wheat bread slices circle) and sing The Hokey Pokey. paint and press onto sheets of into fourths and spread them with Instead of a body part, children paper. peanut or almond butter. Talk will put the named shape into the Provide paper cut-outs of about the number of sides and middle. “Put a square in, put a squares and rectangles in different corners of each piece. square out. Do the hokey pokey sizes that children can glue to and shake it all about….” construction paper to make a col- Dramatic play lage. Children may want to As children play in the home cen- Block center spread glue on top of the shapes ter, encourage them to identify As children play with blocks, dis- and sprinkle with glitter, confetti, shapes, such as a square plastic cuss the difference between flat or sand. container or rectangular cereal box. (two-dimensional) shapes and Read Perfect Square by Michael (If necessary, stock the center with solid (three-dimensional) shapes. Hall. The book begins with an appropriate items beforehand.) Compare a paper square to a illustration of a large red square Invite children to use cardboard wooden cube, for example. How that changes in subsequent pages boxes to make a train or a house. are they the same? How are they into a babbling fountain, a gar- Ask how many rectangle or different? Do the same with a den, a park, and other images. squares they see in a box (top, rectangular block. Press a block The illustrations may stimulate bottom, four sides). As they deco- into paint or playdough so chil- creativity and inspire children to rate their structures, talk about dren can see one of its flat sides. tear, cut, shred, or crumple paper the shapes of windows and doors squares into collages. and lengths of the sides. Borrow a patchwork quilt from z a family or friend. Or borrow a T book from the library, such as gae N Patchwork & Quilting with Kids by Maggie Ball. Encourage children by susa to identify the squares and rectan- oto ph gles in a quilt pattern. Children may be inspired to make a patchwork placemat, a baby quilt, or a larger group quilt. Parents and friends can donate fabric scraps, children can cut the shapes, and a volunteer may sew the pieces together. Writing center Envelopes, paper, greeting cards, note cards, and stamps all offer opportunities for recognizing square and rectangular shapes. Families and friends may recycle these items for you. Stock the center with writing instruments, such as ballpoint pens, graphite pencils, colored pencils, and markers. Clipboards provide a hard surface © Texas Child Care quarTerly / fall 2017 / VOLUMe 41, NO. 2 / ChildCarequarTerly.com for writing. Other supplies may Square Cat by Elizabeth include a stapler, scissors, glue, Schoonmaker (2011), a delightful rubber alphabet stamps, and ink tale about the only square cat in stamp pads. town and her round friends. Younger children may engage Two Short, Two Long: A Book in pretend and practice writing, about Rectangles by Christianne C. while children aged 5 and older Jones (2006), an introduction to may write real notes to family rectangular items in a school. n members and friends. Children may mail their notes in a pretend mailbox in the dramatic play center or in a real mailbox on a street corner. Library center Stock the library with books about squares and rectangles. Here’s a sampling you might find in a library or bookstore: Cuadrados/Squares: Cuadrados a nuestro alrededor/Seeing Squares All Around Us (Figuras Geometricas/ Shapes) by Sarah Schuette (2012), a book of simple illustrations and photos that show squares in everyday objects, in Spanish and English. Find the Square by Britta Teckentrup (2016), a simple and colorful book that introduces preschoolers to shapes. How Many Squares: Geometric Puzzlers for 1st and 2nd Graders (Vol. 1), by C. Mahoney (2013), pages of illustrations that challenge children to count the squares in different diagrams. Rectangulos by Sarah Schuette (2010), Photos and illustrations show rectangles in everyday objects, in both English and Spanish. Squares & Other Shapes: With Josef Albers (2016), a board book that takes children through this artist’s range of geometrics. Squares by Jennifer S.

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