Ages 2-4
Shape Monsters
Skills/Topics:
-Gluing
-Shape Recognition
-Color Recognition
-Color Mixing (optional)
-Cutting/Ripping (optional)
Supply List:
-Colored Paper
-Scissors
-Glue Stick
-12 by 18 inch white paper
-Crayons
-Pencil (optional)
Alternative Supply List:
-If you do not have colored paper you can use newspaper, magazines, color pieces
of white paper, etc.
-If you don’t have a glue stick you can use another form of glue
-If you don’t have a 12 by 18 inch piece of white paper you can use a different size
paper that you do have available
-If you don’t have crayons you can use another coloring material such as markers,
colored pencils, etc. or skip this step
-If you don’t have a pencil you can use another writing or coloring material such as a
pen, crayon, etc.
Overview:
During this project your child will engage in the process of creating shape monsters. You can alternatively create just one shape monster. The main emphasis of this project is to develop shape recognition skills of basic shapes including a circle, square, triangle, and rectangle. You can include other shapes as well if desired. For children just beginning in learning colors you can focus on color recognition with this project. For children who know their colors well you can reinforce color recognition and begin talking about color mixing. Other skill builders include cutting/ripping and gluing.
Project Directions:
Step One:
Depending on your child's ability you or your child can cut/rip shapes to be used in this project. If your child is beginning cutting skills they can cut the body shapes and you can cut the rest of the shapes. Keep in mind if your child is a beginning cutter, it is okay if the shapes don’t come out perfect. It is about the process of learning not the product of a perfect shape! The shapes you will need to cut for this step include the body, arms/legs, eyes, nose, and mouth. You can additionally cut teeth, ears, hair, etc. If you would like you can draw the shapes with a pencil first before cutting especially if your child is cutting! Talk about the shapes as you or your child is cutting/ripping them. If you are going to cut them before your child works on the project you can talk about the shapes as you and child work on gluing them.
Additional Learning Opportunity:
Step Two:
Glue the arms/legs to the back of the shape monsters bodies.
Additional Learning Opportunity:
-Talk about the colors of each shape as your child glues it.
Click here to listen to a color song
-In my example I used the three primary colors! The primary colors are really special….
Step Three:
Glue the shape monsters onto the 12 by 18 inch white paper.
Step Four:
Glue on the facial features onto the shape monsters.
Step Five:
Draw or color details with crayons. In my example I added pupils inside the eyes and hair. You could also draw a background or other facial features not cut and glued.
