Geometry Games for Kindergarteners

Overview of Geometry

The young children are curious about the physical world around them. Thus learning geometry plays a key role in their development. They have little understanding about the shapes around them. The classroom learning builds on their knowledge about geometry. Pre K curriculum relates geometric concepts to the real world.

The CCSS Math standards include an understanding of shapes. The kids are able to recognize and appreciate geometric shapes around them. They develop geometrical problem-solving skills and reasoning. They apply geometric thinking in other mathematics domains. For instance, they measure area and perimeter of a rectangle. They learn to apply triangle area formula. They also create geometric patterns.

The children are also able to apply geometry formulas in other subjects. For example, they create geometric figures and geometric drawing in art and craft. They also learn geometric constructions in science and technology. Apart from this, they learn map skills in social studies.

Teaching Geometry through Manipulatives

The value of manipulatives is known for many years. Manipulatives are physical objects used as teaching tools. It provides hands-on learning experiences to students. Many researches have shown the importance of manipulatives in constructing mathematical knowledge.

The most valuable math learning requires kids to construct their own mathematical thinking. Manipulating and exploring an object develops a better understanding of a concept. A good manipulative helps bridge the gap between formal and informal mathematics learning. It is important that the manipulative used fits the mathematical thinking of a child.

Manipulatives have proved helpful in understanding a variety of mathematical concepts. Manipulatives make it easier to understand the concepts like number and operations. They also make it fun to learn geometry and geometric patterns. Manipulative like geoboards can be used to identify basic geometric figures. It is a perfect tool for explaining students the properties of shapes. Also, it develops a good understanding of angles, area, and perimeter.

The geometric solid models can be used to understand the spatial reasoning. The kids find it easier to understand the geometry terms. The kids understand the terms like edges, faces, vertex, and corners. They manipulate the solids and learn about the number of edges and the number of faces each has.

Progression of Geometry with grades

Related below-grade standard

In prekindergarten, the children first describe simple shapes using informal language. They identify the shapes like circles, rectangles, squares, and triangle. They then identify, sort, compare and analyze these two-dimensional figures. They also learn to describe shapes according to the number of sides and corners. For example, they describe a triangle as a shape with three sides and three corners. They also learn about three-dimensional shapes. They compare three-dimensional shapes with the two-dimensional faces.

Kindergarten Geometry

In kindergarten, children learn to identify and describe two- and three-dimensional shapes. They are able to identify the shapes regardless of their orientation. They analyze and compare shapes of different sizes and different attributes. They also learn to create shapes. They are able to compose simple shapes to form larger shapes.

Related above-grade standard

In grade 1, children develop skills to reason with shapes and their attributes. They analyze shapes from their defining attributes, like number of sides. They compose two dimensional and three-dimensional shapes to make larger composite shapes. They learn to partition rectangles and circle into equal shares. They use the vocabulary like quarters, fourths and halves. 

Kindergartener’s Geometry

Under preschool curriculum, kids learn to recognize shapes only by their appearance. The kids do not understand the geometric properties of a shape. They do not understand attributes like the number of sides or number of angles. They learn about geometric properties when they observe or handle objects. They describe an object only by its visible attributes. In other words, they describe a shape by its size, color, position etc.

Kindergarten leanings help kids to focus on geometric properties of 2D and 3D shapes. They are able to understand why a square is a square and why a cuboid is a cuboid. The kids analyze and describe geometric shapes according to their geometric properties. They are able to identify and analyze shapes according to the geometrical attributes.

• Identifying Shapes: When entering Kindergarten, the kids identify a shape only by its visual appearance.  They get confused on seeing a different than usual orientation of a shape. For example, they are able to identify Shape A as a triangle because of its appearance. The kids might find it difficult to identify Shape B. They might find Shape B too thin or too long to be a triangle.

In the same way, the kids may identify a cube as a square or a sphere as a circle. Thus, it is important that the kids have a clear understanding of 2d and 3d geometric shapes. In kindergarten, they learn about the properties of 2d and 3d geometric shapes.

• Comparing 2d and 3d geometric shapes: The children learn to compare two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. They do this by focusing on the distinguishing properties of the shapes. They use informal language to describe the differences and similarities between two shapes. They informally compare other attributes of two shapes. For example, the kids differentiate between a square and a rectangle. They recognize the common properties and the uncommon properties of the two shapes. They notice both square and rectangle have four sides. The shape with all four sides equal is called a square.

• Sorting Shapes: The sorting activity enables kids to notice that different shapes can be alike in some way. The kids might sort two-dimensional shapes according to the number of sides. They may compare the number of corners of the shapes. Whereas, they may sort geometric shapes 3D according to the number of faces or the by the shape of their faces.

• Analyzing shapes: The kids discuss and examine the shapes of different sizes. They identify the shapes in different orientations. They learn to identify the shapes by their geometric properties. They understand that the shapes within the same class share common attributes. They also have an understanding that how these properties overlap. This concept is learned in details in higher grades.

• Creating shapes: The kids use their knowledge about features of 2d and 3d shapes to create and compose shapes. The kids apply their understanding of attributes of a shape to construct shapes. They use sticks and clay balls to construct 2d shapes. For example, the kids use four equal lengths of straws and connect their endpoints to form a square.

• Composing shapes: The kids understand that simple shapes can be combined to form a composite larger shape. For example, the kids can combine two squares to form a rectangle. This can be learned by using pattern block templates. The kids also practice decomposing two-dimensional shapes. They decompose a larger shape into two or more two-dimensional shapes.

Learn Geometry through Games

Math games help improve mathematics achievement by making concept learning fun. The geometry games to be used in elementary grades should be chosen carefully. One reason for this is that the geometry understanding of the kids at this stage is uneven. Other reason is that the game should be consistent with the knowledge and understanding of the kids. There are games that help kids simultaneously learn two or more concepts at a time.

Geometry puzzles or games can help achieve a number of instructional goals. The games can prepare settings in which the kids visualize or create a shape. The games enable the educator to assess the how well the kids have understood a concept. It also enables them to get an impression of how kids apply their knowledge under different scenarios. The learning games for kindergarten motivate kids to practice similar concepts without getting bored.

By the end of kindergarten, the kids understand geometric definitions and geometry vocabulary. They practice geometry basics and understand different geometry terms. They gain fluency in geometry problems by taking geometry test and geometry quiz. The kids can master the subject by using geometry workbook that includes geometry worksheets based on common core geometry standards.

The kids can also strengthen their geometry basics through math sites that offer fun educational games. The educational websites like SplashLearn offer interactive kids learning games. The site offer math games for preschoolers and worksheets based on elementary mathematics. One can find free printable kindergarten worksheets and other school worksheets online.