• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

KindergartenWorks logo

  • Reading
  • Math
  • Teacher
    Tools
  • Activities
    & Ideas
  • Classroom
    Management
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Reading
  • Math
  • Teacher Tools
  • Activities & Ideas
  • Classroom Management
  • Shop
×

Home » Kindergarten Teaching Ideas

Free Describing 2D Shapes Mini-Booklet for Kindergarten

By Leslie Simpson · About 5 minutes to read this article.

Share
Pin
Email
613 Shares

Introduce how to describe 2D shapes by simply using dots and lines. Here is a free printable booklet to describe the attributes of 2D shapes for kindergarten.

Let me share why it works, how I used it and how to make it for your classroom.

Why it works

This little mini-book could be called a "trace and complete" booklet.

It was designed to follow a pattern and support early readers/non-readers.

The pattern

It has a basic format:

  • The first page asks a question based on a shape's attributes
  • The second page answers it

This pattern helps young students see that all shapes can be described using words like "corners" or "sides." But it also helps them see that all shapes differ in the numbers of each attribute.

I'm not trying to be over-simplistic.

I'm trying to lay a solid foundation that will eventually carry them into 3D shapes.

The visual support - dots and lines

This little booklet was created to give students a way to "show" their math thinking when they aren't at the point of writing words yet.

It has traceable parts because students are still learning how to write their numbers in the early fall when I'm covering this concept.

A "clues" page

It has dots for students to color and traceable lines. This helps them identify the attributes we're teaching - the corners/vertices and types of sides.

Students trace the numbers, sides (represented by lines) and the corners (represented by dots).

There is a longer-term goal behind teaching this --

When you teach students to use dots to represent corners and lines to represent sides, you are giving students who can't write words a way to show their thinking in their math journals (or wherever) when they are "describing" 2D shapes on paper.

Teaching to use dots and lines give students who can't write words a way to show their thinking in their math journals when they are "describing" 2D shapes.
Students use dots in a math journal entry to sort shapes by number of corners.

How I used it

This describing shapes mini-book was created to help us meet Common Core Standards:

  • K.G.4.a - Describe two-dimensional shapes to identify their various attributes, including vertices, sides, corners, and length of sides.
  • K.G.5.a - Draw shapes to represent objects in the world.

It can be done whole group. It can be done in small groups.

That's up to you.

An introductory page

I made this little booklet to use with my guided math groups. These are my small groups of students I meet with during math time.

Since I used it in small groups - here's what I did:

Each student had their book out in front of them and we focused on one shape each day.

We'd talk about and do the two pages for that shape in this mini-booklet.

Do the clues page

Students point to the words with me (kinda like in a reading group) and then we trace the numbers (saying our number formation poems) and tracing the dots and lines.

I usually had them use one color crayon for corners and one for sides.

Then we talk about what shape it could be and I pull out my shape manipulatives (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon) if needed so we count guess, count and talk about it before we turn the page.

Then we turn the page to see if we were correct.

Do the solution page

Then we have to be "detectives" to see if we can indeed find all of the corners and sides from the clues page.

Students use a new color crayon to color in each corner or to trace each line. That way they are recognizing these as separate things.

The "solution" page

Picking up and putting down the crayon each time they trace/color one piece helps them make the connection to the number of attributes, which otherwise can seem kinda intangible.

That means a triangle would have 3 different colored corners and 3 different colored sides - the square would have 4.

They also trace the numbers at the bottom of the page and read those "clues."

Then they can take turns "reading" their new pages of their book to a partner or to me. I'd collect books for the next time we met as a group.

The next we met, we'd re-read the completed pages to help warm-up for the next shape! Books were sent home when completed.

Want to use this in your classroom too? I've got your back!

How to make the mini-booklet

Here's how to make this mini book to describe shapes:

  1. Download this free describing 2D shapes booklet. You agree to these terms of use by doing so. [downloading help]
  2. Print the book double-sided and staple sets together.
  3. Cut books apart.
The ending page

These were designed to be printed in black and white so students can color and trace. The front cover can be colored too along with the introductory and ending page.

And you're ready to use.

Let's wrap it up

I hope this mini-booklet helps you introduce to describing 2D shapes in a smart way - by using dots and lines to give them the support they need.

You may also love this free Describing 2D Shapes Partner Game you can make for your kindergarten class.

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.

More 2D Shapes in Kindergarten

  • Simple Activities and Videos to Teach 2D Shapes
  • Teach: How to Draw 2D Shapes
  • Free Describing 2D Bingo Game
  • 27 Creative Ways to Teach 2D Shapes
Free Describing 2D Shapes Mini-Booklet for KindergartenFree Describing 2D Shapes Mini-Booklet for Kindergarten
Share
Pin
Email
613 Shares

About Leslie Simpson

Leslie is the teacher behind KindergartenWorks. She believes in teaching kinders how to be pretty incredible along with teaching them to read, write and think for themselves. She enjoys drinking hot tea, making mud pies with her three kids and sharing what she's learned with teachers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosy Quinlan says

    September 04, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    Teaching 2D shapes looks great ! I would love one. Than you.

    Reply
  2. Ky Steph says

    December 06, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    October 20, 2018 at 6:07 am

    I love this booklet. Have you created one for 3d shapes?

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      October 20, 2018 at 7:49 pm

      I haven't but I have some good 3D shape stuff I've found here: I haven't but I have some good 3D shape stuff I've found here: https://www.kindergartenworks.com/guided-math/dimensional/ - Leslie

      Reply
  4. Rena says

    January 06, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Hi. Your mini describing shape book is exactly what I am looking for to teach the 2D shapes to my kniders.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    January 04, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    Hi, your site looks amazing, with great ideas. I would love a copy of your Describing 2D shape booklet.

    Cheers,
    Sarah

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let's organize, think and teach smart so you can make learning fun, age-appropriate and the cool thing to do.

Ready? Hold tight to the beauty in teaching kindergarten so they will love it and you will too. I'm Leslie - welcome! Have we met yet? ►

Popular Now

  • 14 Alphabet Countdown Calendars: Here Comes the End of the Year!
  • Retell Literacy Center: 20 Famous Story Retelling Ideas and Printables
  • 21 Creative Ways to Teach 2D Shapes in Kindergarten
  • 87 Cool Pete the Cat Freebies and Teaching Resources
  • 10 Activities for Describing 3D Shapes in Kindergarten
  • 8 Books Kindergartners Ask for Over and Over Again

My K Teacher Shirts

Footer

^ back to top

Learn to organize, think and teach kindergarten in smart ways. Make learning fun, age-appropriate, and the cool thing to do.

©2023 KindergartenWorks

  • Newsletter
  • About
  • T-Shirts
  • Contact
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy