Circle / Shapes / Tot School

Summer of Shapes: Circle

Kent was 22 months old.

After doing our colors and some fun miscellaneous themes last year we were ready for something else to carry us through the summer months.  Why not shapes!?  I was a bit skeptical that Kent would actually pick up on the shapes and learn to identify them.  However, the same thing that happened with our color themes has been happening with the shape themes.  He seems oblivious to what I’m trying to show him, and then weeks later he pipes up with “Triangle!” and I realize that he did get it.  Our learning time together is supposed to be a fun, intentional way to expose him to new concepts.  That’s it: exposure without expectations.  That’s what works.

We started with the circle shape.  Here are our tot trays:

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Ball Matching printable from Memorizing the Moments. I printed two copies of the strip, cut the balls out of one and glued magnets on the back. I taped the strip down so it wouldn't slide around. He did it a couple times and that was it.
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Ball Matching printable from Memorizing the Moments. I printed two copies of the strip, cut the balls out of one and glued magnets on the back. I taped the strip down so it wouldn’t slide around. He did it a couple times and that was it.
Silverware matching. I used our full size silverware and just laid it right on the scanner to make a copy. I glued them to the tray with a glue stick: they peeled right off and the glue came off easily with a wash cloth. He didn't love it.
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Silverware sorting. I used our full size silverware and just laid it right on the scanner to make a copy. I glued them to the tray with a glue stick: they peeled right off and the glue came off easily with a wash cloth. He didn’t love it.
This is something new that we ordered with an Amazon gift card: Lauri Toys Smart Shapes and Stacking Pegs. He REALLY liked this one!
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This is something new that we ordered with an Amazon gift card: Lauri Toys Smart Shapes and Stacking Pegs. He REALLY liked this one!
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I made this color wheel and used permanent markers to make coordinating mini clothespins. We had never tried clipping before and it was too hard for him. Now I know we have more work to do on those little hand muscles!

Nesting cups from Green Sprouts. He had a lot of fun with these so we moved them to his toy kitchen where he can always access them.
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Nesting cups from Green Sprouts. He had a lot of fun with these so we moved them to his toy kitchen where he can always access them.

"A Shape Can Be..." circle printable from Making Learning Fun. I laminated them and added velcro dots. This one was a big hit!
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“A Shape Can Be…” circle printable from Making Learning Fun. I laminated them and added velcro dots. This one was a big hit!

"Shape Magnet Cards" printable also from Making Learning Fun. I laminated it, taped it to his magnetic dry erase board, and added some matching pom pom magnets. I moved it to our fridge when the week was over and he still does it occasionally but isn't a huge fan.
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“Shape Magnet Cards” printable also from Making Learning Fun. I laminated it, taped it to his magnetic dry erase board, and added some matching pom pom magnets. I moved it to our fridge when the week was over and he still does it occasionally but isn’t a huge fan.

Here are some action shots for you:

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Baking with Mama!
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Baking with Mama!
Pouring beans between two coffee mugs. He still loves this, it's kind of a standby.
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Pouring beans between two coffee mugs. He still loves this, it’s kind of a standby.
Marble track! This was a Goodwill find but it's the first time I've had it out.
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Marble track! This was a Goodwill find but this was the first time I got it out.

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  1. Wow, I love this blog! I have a son the same age and jsut started tot schooling… I am encouraged to hear that the colors did in fact sink in and that you just didnt see that for a bit… so far, he has fun with our activities but the colors seem to be of no interest!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been blogging so inconsistently lately that it is really nice to know someone new is reading. Definitely don’t lose hope, it seems like the second I relax and stop trying so hard I see him really pick up on something. If you have any interest in a second language you might try introduce the name of each color that way. We’re learning ASL and sometimes he has no interest in telling me the color but he will sign it or respond when I sign it. 🙂

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  3. Pingback: Watercolor Squirt Bottles | Married To The Farm

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