Matching games are one of the most powerful games you can use for teaching shapes! Think I’m crazy? That’s okay. I’ll show you 5 ways you can teach shapes with matching games.
First, you need to think about the level of your students, and what you are wanting to teach about shapes. Here are some questions to ask yourself before reading through these 5 ways to teach shapes with matching games.
Are your students just being introduced to shapes?
Do you need to teach shape identification?
Are you wanting students to learn some shape attributes?
Now that you have an idea of what you are teaching in your shape activity, read through the 5 ways to use memory games. Trust me, there is an option for what you need.
Memory Shape Match
How to play: Shuffle the cards, and lay them all face down in rows. Children will take turns turning over two cards at a time. If their cards match, they will keep the cards and take another turn. If their cards do not match, they will turn the cards face down in the same spot. Continue play until all the cards have been matched.
This is the first thing most people think of when I say matching game. It is definitely good for shape identification, but don’t think it has to stop there. Always in teaching, the biggest factor to how much students learn from an activity is the conversation that goes with the activity.
If you want students to learn some shape attributes during this game, be sure to ask them questions about the shape they matched. For example: How many sides does your shape have? Does your shape have any vertices? Are the sides of your shape the same length?
When you know what your students need to learn, tailor your questions for those attributes.
Simple Shape Match
How to play: Shuffle the cards and lay them face up in rows. Children will take turns matching 2 cards. Continue play until all the cards have been matched.
Sounds simple, right? That’s why this variation is perfect for toddlers!
This allows them to work on one skill: matching shapes. That way, they are focused on the shape, and not trying to remember where everything is. These are two separate skills. We can help our littles by isolating the skill we really want them to learn.
Sensory Bin Shape Match
How to play: Hide one of each card in a sensory bin. Lay the other cards face up in rows. Children will take turns finding a card in the sensory bin and matching it to the correct shape. Continue play until all shapes have been matched.
This is a simple variation that is again great for littles, but also for sensory seekers. This is, honestly, my kids favorite way to play matching games. They love any chance to dig through sensory bins.
Remember the conversation! Keep asking those questions to help your students learn the attributes they should be focused on.
Match Shapes & Hit
How to play: Lay one of each shape face up in rows. Put the other cards in a pile. Children will take turns drawing a card, and hitting the card that matches. (You can use hands or fly swatters to hit.)
Not to repeat myself, but…keep the conversation centered on the focus skill!
*Bonus idea: If you really want to teach shape attributes, you draw a card from the pile. Don’t let them see! Say the focus attribute of the shape, and have the child hit all shapes with that attribute. For example: if you draw a square, you could say, “Hit all the shapes with four vertices.” Students could hit square, rectangle, or diamond.
Run & Match Shapes (or Sort)
How to play: Lay one of each card face up on one side of the area. Put the other cards in a pile or basket on the other side of the area. Students will draw a card from the pile/basket and run to the other side to match it to the correct shape.
Kids love this fast paced game. It is great for young kids who are learning to recognize shapes. If you want to add in some shape attribute, have students go through the matches and prove they are correct by defining the attributes of the shapes.
Conclusion to Teaching Shapes
These activities are perfect for teaching shapes. However, you can use these same activities for all kinds of matching games. Letters? Animals? Numbers? They work for all topics! Simply, change the conversation you put along with the activities to be attention to the skill you want them to learn.
Do you have more ways you use matching games? I’d love to hear them!
Be sure to check out all the matching games I have to help you in teaching shapes! I have them in all kinds of themes!
