Shape

Shapes are unified wholes or the closed outlines of wholes. We can often recognize something just by its shape; e.g., a cup, a leaf, a flower, a pinecone, a pyramid.

Most of us can see and differentiate both 2D shapes like circles and 3D shapes like spheres. Some of us are good at imagining what a flattened 2D shape is like when its reassembled into a 3D shape.

Our brain interprets shapes as different kinds of objects. When we cannot see the whole shape, our brains fill in the blanks.
Big shapes seem closer; little shapes further away. Size is relative so we compare shapes to determine large and small. For example, a nickel looks small next to a quarter, but big next to a dime.

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Some shapes we give special meanings: a bell-­‐shaped curve, an octagonal sign, a Valentine heart.
We notice the shapes of letters and sometimes use them to describe objects: an L-­‐ shaped room, an A-­‐line skirt, an S-­‐curve. Some shapes have no meaning but are open to imaginative interpretation: spilled milk, paint drips. Some shapes can move (or be moved) and can morph into new shapes: clouds, balloons, clay, dough, Lego blocks.

Shape and form are sometimes used as synonyms because a shape suggests the essence, main idea, important concept or structure of something.
Shape is part of the Sensory Alphabet and is an important element in a child’s non-­‐verbal vocabulary. Try these:

• Look for shapes inside and outside. Make a collection of favorite shapes. Take photos of favorite shapes. Make “trick” shots where you seem to be holding a giant shape (like a cloud) in your hand or where a small shape is held close to the camera and seems giant-­‐ sized.
• Put shapes in a bag and try to identify by touch alone.
• Trace favorite shapes.
• Read books illustrated with simple shapes such as many of the books by Lois Ehlert.
• Tear construction paper into shapes. Arrange the shapes to make creatures and otherlarger shapes. Glue on contrasting paper.
• Fold paper and cut out a shape on the fold. Imagine what the resulting shape will be.Open the paper and see.
• Use compasses, rulers and protractors to make shapes.
• Make shapes with modeling materials. Sculpt with the hands or flatten and cut outshapes with lids and other materials. Let favorite results harden.
• Make tiles and tesselations with geometric shapes or tangrams.
• Build shapes with blocks, recycled cans or other materials.
• Draw a favorite shape and write a poem or story inside.
• Animate a simple shape by using a computer app. Or make an old-­‐fashioned animationby drawing the shape on every page of a small book of sticky notes. Draw it in a different place each time or draw different simple shapes on each page. Flip through the pages to see the shape “dance” or “morph.”
• Draw a giant shape on the playground with chalk or make it indoors with painter’s tape. Hop, skip and move around it different ways.